New construction orders fall 1% in three months to April 2006

New construction orders in the three months to April were down 1% to £10.8bn compared with the same period a year ago, according to the latest data from the Department of Trade & Industry. However, in the year to April, orders were up nearly 13% to £45bn.

In the three months to April, public housing was up 24%, while private housing was down 9%. Infrastructure also dropped 15%. Other public increased just 1%, while private industrial jumped 18%. Private commercial was up 3% (a 58% drop in health orders was more than compensated by a 54% boost in offices orders).

In the year to April, other public was the only sector to suffer a decline, dropping 2%. Public housing orders were up 30%, while private housing was ahead 5%. Infrastructure was up 28%, buoyed by increases in all subsectors. Private industrial was up 35%, while private commercial was 16% ahead.

Orders in three months to April 2006 (orders in three months to April 2005 in brackets)

• Public housing £788m (£634m)
• Private housing £3,189m (£3,490m)
• Infrastructure £1,142m (£1,343m)
• Other public £1,462m (£1,452m)
• Private industrial £848m (£721m)
• Private commercial £3,427m (£3,324m)
• Total £10,855m (£10,964m)

Orders in the 12 months to April 2006 (orders in the 12 months to April 2005)

• Public housing £2,207m (£1,696m)
• Private housing £12,977m (£12,412m)
• Infrastructure £5,270m (£4109m)
• Other public £6,719m (£6,852m)
• Private industrial £3,654m (£2,711m)
• Private commercial £14,173m (£12,187m)
• Total £45,000m (£39,968m)