Irish construction PMI data in September signalled a further sharp worsening of business conditions in the sector. Both activity and new business contracted at steeper rates during the month, while job shedding intensified. The Ulster Bank Construction Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) - -  a seasonally adjusted index designed to measure the overall performance of the construction economy - - dropped to 34.2 in September, from 38.8 in the previous month, ending a run of three successive rises in the index. The rate of contraction was the fastest since May as the wider economic downturn in Ireland continued to impact negatively on the construction sector.