LONDON (Reuters) -Britain’s construction sector contracted in October at the fastest pace in over five years, with civil engineering activity declining at the fastest pace since the pandemic, due to weak demand and uncertainty ahead of finance minister Rachel Reeves’ budget, a survey showed on Thursday.

S&P Global’s monthly purchasing managers’ index for the construction industry fell to 44.1 in October from 46.2 in September, extending its longest downturn since the global financial crisis.

Last month’s PMI remained well below the 50 mark that divides growth from contraction, and a Reuters poll forecast of 46.7.

Civil engineering activity was at its weakest since May 2020, when lockdowns during the COVID pandemic halted construction work.

Activity in the residential building sector la

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