12/06/2014 - Irish building and construction output up 2.1% in the first quarter

The volume of output in building and construction in the first quarter of 2014 rose by 2.1% when compared with the preceding quarter. This reflected an increase of 0.2% in non-residential building and decreases of 3.7% and 4.2% respectively in civil engineering and residential building.

On an annual basis, the volume of output in building and construction rose by 7.7% in the opening quarter of the year. The annual increase in the volume of output reflected a year-on-year rise of 28.9% in non-residential building. Residential building and civil engineering declined by 4.0% and 2.6% respectively over the period.

Overall output from the building sector posted its first average volume increase since 2006 last year, with an 11.7% gain. We expect continued improvement in the building sector in 2014, with another double-digit rise in output on the cards.

Analyst: Alan McQuaid