The National Federation of Builders (NFB) is calling on the Chancellor to ensure that measures in the forthcoming budget will ensure that the construction industry is able to boost the economy from the bottom up.

While official statistics and industry forecasts show that while the outlook is positive for the construction industry, particularly in the private housebuilding sector, total output has shrunk by 6% since 2008. Construction companies, particularly SMEs, have been hardest hit by the recent downturn with around 21,000 going into bankruptcy or liquidation since the first quarter of 2009.

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Julia Evans, chief executive of the NFB, said: "The NFB is pleased that construction remains high on the government's agenda, but the chancellor needs to find the missing pieces of the puzzle if he wants to achieve growth across all sides of the industry.

"Construction companies saw the highest number of total liquidations of any sector in 2013, with SMEs hardest hit. The Treasury should adopt the key measures set out by the NFB to ensure that the industry can power the economy from the bottom up."

(CD/JP)