Australia’s construction industry saw some improvement in February after the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 Omicron variant over December and January. The Australian Industry Group/Housing Industry Association performance of construction index rose 7.5 points to 53.4 in February, indicating the sector is again growing with a score above 50 points. Ai Group chief policy advisor Peter Burn said there was a healthy pick-up in new orders across the construction sector, and while difficulties in supply chains persisted in the month, the pace of decline in supplier deliveries eased. Ongoing inflationary pressures were also evident with cost rises for inputs and wages growth remaining elevated. “These conditions, together with the rebound of new orders suggest further inflationary pressures in the period ahead,” Burn said. Other new figures due from the Australian Bureau of Statistics will give a further flavour of how the economy is performing in the early stages of 2022 …