CONSTRUCTION SECTOR:The downturn in the construction sector showed signs of deepening last month as activity and new business decreased at faster rates. Firms cut their purchasing activity and hiring in response to lower workloads, according to the latest results from the Ulster Bank construction purchasing managers' index.

The rate of input price inflation slowed markedly. The seasonally adjusted index, designed to track changes in total construction activity, fell to 42.5 in June, from 46.3 the previous month. It is the sharpest reduction in activity since September 2011.