Increased fuel costs hit the supply chain, Birmingham tops van theft table, and an Essex roofer prepares for Mount Everest Marathon
Surging fuel prices are being blamed for a rapid increase in purchasing prices across the construction sector.
Nearly 70% of construction buyers reported a jump in ‘input costs’ in April, as suppliers put up their transport charges.
Average subcontractor prices have also grown at the fastest rate since 2022.
Overall, the Construction Purchasing Manager Index dropped by nearly 6 points, reflecting a sharp fall in business activity.
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Birmingham has topped the country for van thefts for the last two years, claims a report from Tempcover.
In total, van thefts declined 16% in 2025, although experts warned it remains a persistent problem across the country.
The Ford Transit remains the most stolen model, with over 1,300 taken in the last two years — a stat that reflects the brand’s position as the UK’s most popular van.
Plain, white vans accounted for 73% of all van thefts.
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An Essex roofer is preparing to take on the Mount Everest Marathon at the end of the month.
Jimmy Roe, who has raised over £25,000 for Young Lives vs Cancer, has been training since last year for the high altitude run.
Roe is running in memory of his stepson, Logan Falconer, who passed away when he was just three years old from neuroblastoma.
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