Construction output reached £22.6bn in second quarter

Construction output in the second quarter rose 11.3% to £22.6bn compared to £20.3bn in the same period a year ago.

Of the six new build sectors the Department of Trade & Industry divides the data into, four were up year-on-year, but two significant sectors posted falls.

Private commercial was marginally lower at £3,645m, but infrastructure was down 9.6% to £1,886m.

Other public and private housing boasted the highest increases of 27.5% and 25.4% respectively.

All four repair, maintenance and improvement sectors were up year-on-year. Other private RMI posted the lowest increase of 11%, while other public recorded the highest boost of 21.4%.

Overall in the first half, output was up 9.2% from £39.9bn to £43.6bn.

Q2 2003 (Q2 2002 figures in brackets)

Public housing: £510m (£441m)

Private housing: £3,099m (£2,470m)

Infrastructure: £1,886m (£2,087m)

Other public £2,104m (£1,649m)

Private industrial: £862m (£822m)

Private commercial: £3,645m (£3,674m)

Public housing RMI: £1,829m (£1,545m)

Private housing RMI: £3,472m (£3,083m)

Other public RMI £1,898m (£1,563m)

Other private: RMI £3,304m (£2,975m)

Total: £22.6bn (£20.3bn)