First quarter new orders pass £9bn barrier

Despite a 26% year-on-year fall in March, the value of new orders in construction was up 5% in the first quarter, breaching the £9bn barrier.

The latest data from the Department of Trade & Industry, published today (Thursday) shows new orders were worth a total of £2.5bn in March compared with nearly £3.5bn in the same month last year.

The biggest fall was recorded in infrastructure, down from £1.1bn in March 2002 to £420m in March this year. March 2002 was driven by the award of the Highways Agency's managing agent contract deals for Areas 7, 9 and 11 and the term maintenance contracts for Areas 1, 6 and 10.

The other public and private commercial sectors were also down this March, but the other three sectors were up. Public housing was up 53% to £198m, private housing increased 5% to £728m and private industrial experienced a 10% reaching £211m

New orders March 2003

Public housing £198m (£130m in 2002)

Private housing £728m (£691m)

Infrastructure £420m (£1,114m)

Other public £391m (£502m)

Private industrial £211m (£192m)

Private commercial £636m (£863m)

Total £2,584m (£3,492m)