THE UK'S construction industry has stabilised, with new figures suggesting the sector is slowly recovering.

The industry almost returned to growth in April, according to the latest Markit/CIPS Construction purchasing managers' index.

A report says firms have benefited from catch-up work after bad weather disrupted jobs earlier this year and contracts for new builds, providing the sector with its best results for six months.

The headline reading of 49.4 was just below the 50 mark, which separates growth from contraction, and well above the 47.2 recorded in March.

Levels of commercial activity and civil engineering projects continued to fall, however, the report revealed a rise in housing activity, which was the strongest increase for a year.

It is another encouraging sign for the UK economy after yesterday's (Wednesday, May 1) manufacturing figures showed a rise in activity, and GDP figures last week revealed the country avoided a triple-dip recession.

Tim Moore, author of the Markit/CIPS construction PMI, said: “UK construction sector output was closer to stabilisation than at any time since October 2012.

“A slower decrease in output reflected an element of catch-up after some severe weather delays earlier in the year.

“Total construction output was mainly supported by higher levels of residential building activity in April.

“The findings are an early indication construction will act as less of a drag on UK GDP over the second quarter of 2013.

“April’s data also highlights a cautious degree of positive sentiment about the year-ahead outlook.

“However, total new work dropped for the eleventh month running during April, which further reduces the likelihood of improving in employment patterns across the sector.”