07 Feb 2018
ONS Data Overestimating Construction Demand for 2017 as Mineral Products Stay Flat
Growth in mineral products sales in Great Britain (GB) ground to a halt in 2017 across all major markets, except for mortar. This is particularly significant for materials such as aggregates and ready-mixed concrete (RMC) which are the largest elements of the construction supply chain, ubiquitous to all types of construction work, and which are not usually stocked for future use on project sites. This means that the Mineral Products Association (MPA) Sales Volumes Survey, which represents between 70%-95% of the total GB market for these materials, can be used as a reliable and straightforward indicator of ongoing construction activity.