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(Alliance News) – Ireland’s construction activity continued to fall in October, though commercial construction returned to growth in contrast to the other sub sectors, S&P Global reported Tuesday.

The AIB Ireland construction purchasing managers’ index rose to 48.1 in October from 43.7 in September.

A reading above the 50.0 neutral mark indicates an overall increase in business activity from the previous month, while a reading below signals a contraction.

Although the latest figure indicates that the downturn in Ireland’s construction sector has eased with the softest decline in activity recorded since June, contraction nonetheless has extended into the sixth successive month.

“The sectoral breakdown showed a divergence in performance among the three sub sectors. Commercial construction activity ended its two-month period of contraction, returning to growth, albeit marginally last month. Civil engineering continued to post declining activity levels, but at a less severe rate compared to September. In contrast, residential activity saw an acceleration in the pace of contraction,” said John Fahey, AIB senior economist.

Furthermore, staffing levels in the sector fell for the second month running, as input costs rose sharply with firms citing higher fuel and raw material costs.

“There were signs of stabilisation in new orders in October. The latest decline was only marginal and the weakest in the current three-month sequence of contraction as some firms reported being busier,” S&P Global explained.

Looking ahead, optimism regarding the possibility of increasing activity levels over the next twelve months improved to the highest level since June, with 29% of those questioned anticipating an increase in output.

S&P Global compiles the PMI each month using survey responses from a panel of around 150 construction companies.

By Elijah Dale, Alliance News senior reporter Asia-Pacific

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