THE next government faces increased pressure to boost housebuilding rates after construction firms have reported a slump in the run-up to the general election.

S&P Global’s latest construction survey, published today, revealed last month’s housing output had fallen to its lowest level since February following its first rise for 19 months in May.

With 1.1 million people on a waiting list for social housing, industry experts said businesses are looking to ministers to spell out how they will re-stimulate the market and support long-term growth.

The latest statistics show the government came nowhere close to meeting its target 300,000 new homes a year in 2021/22, building just under 235,000, of which just 7,528 were designated for social housing.

S&P Global’s purchasing managers’ index (PMI) scored the construction sector 52.2 in June, down from 54.7 in May.

Any score above the 50.0 threshold indicates that activity in the industry is increasing, while anything below means it is shrinking, but experts had expected the rate to hold at 54.

Andrew Harker, economics director at S&P Global Market Intelligence, said there were signs of a slowdown in the latest survey period, “most notably around housing activity,” with firms indicating the decrease in new orders “was in part related to election uncertainty.”