The S&P Global UK Construction PMI fell to 44.5 in February 2026 from 46.4 in January, defying expectations for a modest rise to 47 and signaling a deeper contraction in UK construction activity. Surveyed firms cited weaker inflows of new orders, which amplified the impact of subdued client demand and adverse weather conditions on project starts and site work.
Residential building activity recorded the steepest decline among the monitored categories, followed by civil engineering, while commercial construction also contracted sharply. Despite the broad-based downturn, business confidence strengthened to its highest level since December 2024, as respondents anticipated securing new contracts and benefiting from an eventual improvement in overall economic conditions.
