Contraction in the Northern Ireland construction industry remained relatively unchanged during the last quarter, according to new government figures.

The latest Construction Bulletin, published by the Central Survey Unit of the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA), found the provisional seasonally adjusted Index of Construction for the period 1 October to 31 December 2008 was 94.9.

This is broadly similar to the level of construction output for the previous quarter (94.0). An overall downward trend in construction output has been evident since the second quarter of 2007.

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The primary measure of the value of construction output in Northern Ireland (the Index of Construction) is obtained from the Northern Ireland Quarterly Construction Enquiry (QCE).

This is a statutory survey of construction firms operating in Northern Ireland. Each quarter a sample of construction firms is asked to provide details of the value of construction activity they have undertaken within NI in a specified period.

The Index uses 2000 as the base year i.e. (2000=100).

This Bulletin provides a measure of the value of construction output in Northern Ireland for the period 1 October to 31 December 2008.

A spokesman for the department said: "Results, particularly for the latest quarter are provisional and subject to revision, as fuller information becomes available from subsequent returns in future quarters."

(PR/JM)