UK housebuilding returns to growth but future uncertain

THE UK'S housebuilding activity returned to growth in June for the first time in nine months, as the downturn across the construction sector showed signs of easing, a new survey shows.

- By Anna Wise

But optimism among builders weakened as economic worries clouded the outlook for the future.

The latest S&P Global construction purchasing managers' index showed a reading of 48.8 last month, improving from 47.9 in May.

Any reading above the 50 threshold indicates that activity in the industry is increasing while anything below means it is shrinking.

The latest score indicates construction activity contracted further in June, but the decline was the slowest in six months.