Private housebuilding output fell by 5.2% in October month-on-month, the highest drop out of nine sectors measured by the Office for National Statistics.

The fall in output for new private homes was offset slightly by a 1.8% increase in output for new public homes, while total repairs and maintenance housing output increased by 1.4%, including a 2.2% rise in output for public housing repairs and maintenance.

The housebuilding fall contributed to overall construction output dropping  0.5% in October to a monthly value of £15,485m, following a 0.4% increase in September.