Activity in the construction sector slowed once again in September.
That’s according to the latest purchasing managers index from BNP Paribas Real Estate Ireland.
The index stood at 48.6 in the month - below the 50 marker that separates growth from contraction.
It makes September the eighth month of the year so far to see a decline in activity - with only June registering modest growth.
However the rate of contraction was far slower than in previous months, and compares to a 44.9 reading in August.
That came as some of the survey's panellists reported signs of improving demand.
"Over the course of the year we've had successive month-on-month slowdowns but they have been quite marginal," said John McCartney, head of research at BNP Paribas Real Estate Ireland.
"Most of it is probably coming from the commercial side, where we have enough office blocks at this stage, nobody is really building new shopping centres anymore.
"So I think that's where the drag is coming from - housing is still going pretty well and I think the expectations are for housing output to probably reach about 31,000 or 32,000 units this year," he said.
