UK construction sector slows down more than expected

Overall housebuilding experiences sharp drop in output, suggesting slowdown in housing market - but economists urged not to read too much into latest figures

Britain's construction sector experienced a sharper slowdown than first thought at the end of 2014 as the boost from a buoyant housing market appeared to fizzle out.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics suggest the first quarterly decline in output for the sector since the start of 2013, echoing other signs of waning activity in the housing market.