LONDON, Dec. 2 (UPI) -- Construction activity in Britain rose slightly in November, but remains historically low, a research firm said Thursday.
The construction sector's Purchasing Manager's Index rose from 51.6 to 51.8, Markit said.
The index uses 50 as a break even point. Numbers above 50 indicate business growth.
"Optimism over future business prospects improved to the strongest in five months," the report said. However, "the latest growth remains weak in the context of historical data."
Chief Executive Officer David Noble at the Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply said near-term prospects for the industry were "gloomy" with growth "sluggish."
"Perhaps most concerning is the fall in employment levels reflects job cuts rather than a freeze on new hires," he said in a statement.
Markit economist Sarah Ledger said the data "signaled that operating conditions remained challenging."
