Confidence within the construction industry has fallen during the last three months of 2013, the Scottish Building Federation (SBF) has reported.

The Scottish Construction Monitor slipped nine points in the final quarter to stand at plus nine, but that was only the second positive confidence reading since the monitor began in 2008. In the third quarter the monitor had shot up by 31 points to plus 18. The SBF said the recovery was clearly fragile, though a second positive reading was welcome.

It said a majority of employers viewed the rising cost of materials and supplies as a growing threat to their business.

On average, companies spent 32% of turnover on materials and supplies, and almost two in three said rising costs had outstripped any increase in client fees over the past five years and eroded profit margins.