The Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government has published an initial forecast for construction industry productivity in 2004, predicting that house completions in 2004 will match 2003 figures.
The overall forecast is for the volume of construction output to increase by just under 2% in 2004, compared with an increase of 0.8% in 2003.
The figures for house completions is expected to stay at the same level as 2003. Modest growth is expected in the retail and tourism sectors and a 2% increase is expected in public sector construction.
The report was prepared for the department by DKM Economic Consultants.
