Repair and maintenance activity saw healthy growth in the third quarter of 2026, despite an overall fall in construction output, which is encouraging news for KBB retailers looking to target consumers wanting to improve their existing homes rather than move.
Repair and maintenance (RMI) activity in Great Britain grew by 0.5% in the third quarter of 2026, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), which will come as good news for companies in the home renovation sector.
Total construction output fell by 0.7% between July and September 2026, compared with the previous quarter. The ONS data showed that the main contributor to the overall quarterly decline was private new housing, which fell by 4.7%. Five of the nine construction sectors actually recorded a decrease during the period.
The latest figures, published on November 12, also showed positive signs of a monthly recovery in September. Construction output increased by 0.8%, following four consecutive monthly falls, with both new work and repair and maintenance recording growth.
Monthly RMI output increased by 0.6% in September, while new work grew by 0.9%.
However, there was also some positive news in the construction pipeline, with total new orders increasing by 1.2% (or £107m) in the third quarter compared with the previous three months.
This follows new research from finance company Evolution Money, which found that three-in-five (61%) UK homeowners would prefer to upgrade their existing property rather than move over the next five years, with just 19% saying they would choose to relocate instead.
