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General view of the London skyline which is dotted with cranes for building construction in London July 4, 2009.
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LONDON - Construction activity contracted for a 22nd consecutive month in December but the pace of decline eased and firms were upbeat about the future, a survey showed on Tuesday.
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The Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply/Markit construction PMI index rose to 47.1 in December from 47.0 in November and a series low of 28.6 hit in February.
Construction accounts for around 6 percent of the nation's gross domestic product.
Alan Clarke, economist at BNP Paribas noted the construction series was painting a more gloomy picture than the official data, which show the sector expanded in the third quarter.
A breakdown by sub-sector showed both commercial and civil engineering construction activity continued to decline in December, but residential construction expanded for a fourth month running and at its fastest rate since August 2007.
Incoming new business declined after rising in November. But construction companies were optimistic business would pick up over the coming year.
"Though the sector ended the year on a bad note, there are some glimmers of hope," said CIPS Chief Executive Officer David Noble.
"Purchasing managers also remain confident that 2010 will be a much better year for the construction sector and that it will begin to grow again."
(Reporting by Christina Fincher; editing by Stephen Nisbet)
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