New orders improved in November

New construction orders improved year-on-year in November by 12%, rising from £2.5bn to £2.8bn. This is the first month since July to post an improvement.

Of the six sectors, five improved, particularly private industrial up 71% to £277m and public housing up 50% to £101m. Other public was boosted 16% to £478m, private housing by 10% to £813m and infrastructure by 9% to £283m (only the third time this year that this sector has improved year-on-year).

The only sector that fell back, albeit by just 2% to £856m, was private commercial.

In the year-to-date, total orders stand at £31.6bn, 5% ahead of the first 11 months of 2002 at £30.2bn.

New orders November 2003 (November 2002 in brackets)

• Public housing £101m (£67m)
• Private housing £813m (£739m)
• Infrastructure £283m (£259m)
• Other public £478m (£411m)
• Private industrial £277m (£162m)
• Private commercial £856m (£870m)
• Total £2,808m (£2,507m)