The UK construction sector shrank at its steepest pace for more than three years in March in the latest sign of the wider slowdown for the economy.
Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed the sector contracted by 3.6%, the biggest decline since December 2012.
It also marked the first time since comparable records began in 2010 that construction had shrunk for three months in a row.
The figures come amid warnings that uncertainty ahead of the EU referendum is weighing on growth – though some experts think any impact will not have taken effect until the second quarter of 2016.
They also coincide with the IMF's warningon what it sees as the potential risk of leaving the European Union, and a day after the latest stark intervention by Bank of England governor Mark Carney – raising the spectre of a possible recession prompted by a leave vote.
Latest construction figures showed that for the first quarter, the sector declined by 1.1% - worse than previously estimated when the ONS published its initial estimate for gross domestic product(GDP) during the period.
But the downgrade will not be enough to take that figure lower, the ONS said.
The housing sector bucked the trend in the construction sector, posting first quarter growth of 4.8% - its best since the third quarter of 2014. However it turned lower in March, with a fall of 0.3%.
But infrastructure output shrank by 5.6% in the quarter and 6.5% for the month.
Howard Archer, chief UK and European economist at IHS Global Insight, said: "Disappointing, softer news on the UK economy just keeps on coming at the moment.
"Construction output extended its poor start to 2016 into March when output nosedived 3.6% month-on-month.
"The only crumb of comfort was that total house building rose 4.8% quarter-on-quarter.
"The construction sector is seemingly currently being affected by increased caution among clients amid heightened UK economic uncertainties that are being magnified as June’s EU referendum looms."
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