UK construction industry dealt blow by high street closures

Builders get back to work after bad weather earlier this year, but new orders continue slide

High street store closures are adding to the mounting problems facing Britain's construction industry, despite a modest uplift from good weather over the past month.

While the industry continued to stage a modest recovery in May after bad weather earlier this year, reduced demand from struggling retailers was one reason cited by the latest IHS Markit/CIPS purchasing managers survey for the fourth decline in new orders in five months.