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UK builders report biggest leap in cost inflation on record, PMI shows
S&P Global said input cost inflation hit a record as fuel, raw material and transport costs rose and new orders fell at one of the sharpest rates in six years.
On Wednesday, British construction firms reported the biggest monthly cost inflation on record in March, as the war in Iran disrupted supply chains and reduced new orders.
S&P Global's all-sector Purchasing Managers' Index dropped to 49.9 in March, falling below the 50.0 growth threshold for the 15th consecutive month as economic prospects dimmed.
Five-Year fixed-rate mortgages for first-time buyers have climbed above 5.2% recently, with RBC Capital Markets analysts noting rising energy and fuel costs have "taken the spring out of the spring selling season."
Halifax data shows average UK house prices fell 0.5% in March to £299,677, slipping below the £300,000 barrier for the first time this year despite underlying resilience.
Broader European equity markets surged early Wednesday following a two-week ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran, boosting housebuilder shares on hopes for lower mortgage rates.