Industry orders reach a record

New construction orders in the first half of this year reached a record total of £17bn, up 6% on the £16bn total for the first half of 2002.

The latest data from the Department of Trade & Industry shows three key sectors were substantially ahead: public housing up 19.5% to £777m; private housing up 25% to £4.7bn (the largest sector in the half); and other public also up 25% to £2.9bn. Private industrial inched ahead 1% to just over £1bn.

Worryingly, private commercial slipped 7.5% to £4.6bn, while disturbingly for civils players, the infrastructure sector fell back 9% to £2.9bn.

It should be noted that the market seems to have stalled of late: both May's and June's total new orders were down year-on-year.