Public housing and private commercial buoy new construction orders

New construction orders in the three months to August 2006 were worth £12.8bn, an increase of 11% compared with the same period a year ago.

The increase was thanks to just two sectors: public housing (up 34%) and private commercial (ahead 51%). Private housing and private industrial increased very slightly, but other public fell 11% and infrastructure dropped 21%.

In the year to August, total orders were £47.5bn, 13% ahead of the same period a year ago. Public housing and private commercial showed strong increases (43% and 41% respectively), while private industrial was ahead 22%.

However, the other three sectors slipped: private housing (down 1%); infrastructure (down 7%); and other public (down 7%).

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

• Public housing £556m (£414m)
• Private housing £3,786m (£3,776m)
• Infrastructure £1,093m (£1,384m)
• Other public £1,791m (£2,010m)
• Private industrial £868m (£865m)
• Private commercial £4,714m (£3,120m)
• Total £12,807m (£11,569m)

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

• Public housing £2,515m (£1,754m)
• Private housing £13,107m (£13,226m)
• Infrastructure £4,688m (£5,061m)
• Other public £6,309m (£6,785m)
• Private industrial £3,721m (£3,044m)
• Private commercial £17,148m (£12,162m)
• Total £47,488m (£42,032m)