New orders improve overall, but 'other public' sector still depressed

New construction orders in the three months to May increased 9% compared with the same period a year ago to £12.6bn, according to the latest data from the Department of Trade & Industry.

Public housing, private industrial and private commercial enjoyed strong increases of 60%, 13% and 37% respectively. However, much of these increases were offset by declines in private housing, infrastructure and other public orders, down 4%, 26% and 8% respectively.

In the year to May, total new orders were 14% higher than the year-ago period reaching £46.3bn.

Public housing enjoyed the greatest increase of 39%, followed by private industrial, up 28%, and private commercial, ahead 25%. Infrastructure grew 10%, while private housing grew 5%. The only sector to fall back was, predictably, other public, which fell just 1%.

Orders in the three months to May 2006 (orders in the three months to May 2005 in brackets)

• Public housing £920m (£574m)
• Private housing £3,375m (£3,502m)
• Infrastructure £1,363m (£1,831m)
• Other public £1,326m (£1,445m)
• Private industrial £947m (£841m)
• Private commercial £4,715m (£3,431m)
• Total £12,645m (£11,624m)

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

• Public housing £2,343m (£1,691m)
• Private housing £13,205m (£12,556m)
• Infrastructure £4,978m (£4,523m)
• Other public £6,546m (£6,630m)
• Private industrial £3,703m (£2,893m)
• Private commercial £15,487m (£12,341m)
• Total £46,261m (£40,634m)