UK builders hit by surging costs of fuel and materials as output drops

[{"id":1281363,"path":"/news/politics/local-elections-2026-latest-live-london-polls-greens-labour-reform-tories-lib-dems-b1281363.html","title":"Local elections 2026 LIVE: Keir Starmer casts vote in central London as millions go to polls","imageUrl":"https://static.standard.co.uk/2026/05/07/08/2274920785.jpg","standfirst":"Local elections are taking place in London and across England, with crucial votes also happening in Scotland and Wales"},{"id":1281338,"path":"/news/uk/hantavirus-cruise-ship-self-isolating-uk-b1281338.html","title":"Two people who were on hantavirus cruise ship are self-isolating in UK","imageUrl":"https://static.standard.co.uk/2026/05/04/6/35/SEI295696294.jpg","standfirst":"In an update issued on Wednesday evening, the UK Health Security Agency said ‘the risk to general public remains very low’"},{"id":1281360,"path":"/news/transport/trains-disruption-latest-southern-gatwick-express-radio-system-fault-b1281360.html","title":"Train chaos LIVE: 'Major disruption' to south London and southern England as radio fault hits railways","imageUrl":"https://static.standard.co.uk/2026/02/04/09/5600b1f188cdafb0d5a22b172c898d08Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzcwMjgyNDA0-2.28691170.jpg","standfirst":"Radio system breakdown hits London Overground, Southern, Thameslink, Gatwick Express and South Western Railway"},{"id":1281286,"path":"/going-out/bars/price-pint-beer-mayfair-london-over-10-pounds-b1281286.html","title":"The £11 pint sets an insane, disastrous precedent — pull the other one","imageUrl":"https://static.standard.co.uk/2026/05/06/13/52/11-pounds-pint-beer.jpeg","standfirst":"There is no need for beer to cost this much, writes Josh Barrie"},{"id":1281345,"path":"/news/london/matt-lucas-prejudice-palestine-activist-tube-antisemitic-jewish-b1281345.html","title":"Matt Lucas condemns 'prejudice' after being harassed by pro-Palestine activist at Tube station","imageUrl":"https://static.standard.co.uk/2025/12/29/22/1fe642ac2f36d07ee9f955b2c59c76a7Y29udGVudHNlYXJj...