The U.K. construction sector logged a bigger than expected growth in July, driven by an increase in commercial output, data from Markit Economics showed Thursday.
The Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply/Markit Purchasing Managers' Index rose to 50.9 in July from 48.2 in June. The reading was forecast to rise to 48.7.
Growth was largely confined to the commercial sub-sector in July, as house building and civil engineering activity continued to decline.
The construction companies reported a second consecutive monthly reduction in purchasing activity at their units, survey data showed.
At the same time, suppliers' delivery times lengthened sharply, which some respondents attributed to delayed deliveries around London in the run-up to the Olympics.
Input prices increased in July, thereby extending the current period of cost inflation to two-and-a-half years. Meanwhile, rates charged by sub-contractors declined for the fourth month running and at the fastest pace since June 2011.
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