Construction on road to recovery, but pitfalls could still lie ahead, says FMB

A potential easing in supply chain issues has delivered construction’s highest overall output since September 2019, but rising costs could still cause problems for the sector, warns the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) in response to the latest ONS figures.  

Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, said: “Construction continues to recover after what has been a turbulent time for the industry. In particular the RMI market, which is the mainstay of small, local builders’ workload, continues to remain above pre-pandemic levels, which is good to see. The uplift in the market seems to suggest that it is now getting easier to obtain materials and a lucky spell of clear weather has allowed construction to continue without hinderance. However, we know from recent FMB data that building materials and skills pressures have slowed projects for 89% of FMB members. Even more concerning is rising inflation as the increased cost of construction materials will hit the pockets of the small builders who run to tight margins, and will increase prices for customers already facing rising bills.”