Q2 output grows to £14.8bn

New build output grew to £14.8bn in the second quarter, representing a 3% increase compared with both the previous quarter and the same quarter a year ago, according to the Department of Trade & Industry.

Compared with Q1, all sectors bar one posted growth. The black sheep was other public, down 1%. Private housing and private industrial posted the most growth of 6% and 5% respectively. Disturbingly, public housing grew just 1%.

Compared with Q2 2004, only half the sectors enjoyed growth: private housing up 12%; private industrial up 8%; and private commercial up 2%. Public housing slipped 2%; infrastructure dropped 6%; and other public declined 3%.

Repair, maintenance and improvement (RMI) output in Q2 slipped 1% compared to Q1, but was 10% greater than the year-ago figure.

Compared with Q1, private housing RMI increased 2%, while other private RMi increased so little as to be no change. Public housing RMI fell 5%, while other public RMI slipped 2%. Compared with Q2 2004, all four sectors enjoyed growth, particularly public housing RMI (up 10%) and other public RMI (up 17%).

New build output Q2 2005 (Q1 2005/Q2 2004 in brackets)

• Public housing £671m (£664m/£687m)
• Private housing £4,636m (£4,375m/£4,156m)
• Infrastructure £1,581m (£1,554m/£1,678m)
• Other public £12,529m (£2,543m/£2,620m)
• Private industrial £1,053m (£1,000m/£972m)
• Private commercial £4,307m (£4,169m/£4,223m)
• Total £14,776m (£14,297m/£14,336m)

RMI output Q2 2005 (Q1 2005/Q2 2004 in brackets)

• Public housing £2,238m (£2,357m/£2,037m)
• Private housing £3,797m (£3,712m/£3,565m)
• Other public £2,203m (£2,259m/£1,889m)
• Other private £3,624m (£3,610m/£3,345m)
• Total £11,862m (£11,937m/£10,836m)