Private-commercial orders in construction move ahead

New construction orders in the private commercial sector bucked the general trend by showing a 13% increase in value in the three months to October 2005 compared to the previous three months, according to the Department of Trade & Industry. They also showed an increase of 32% compared with the same period a year earlier. Year-on-year figures showed a 3% fall. There were consistent increases in new orders for public housing and housing associations. Year-on-year orders were up to 2%, with a 10% increase in the three months to October compared with a year earlier and 4% compared with the previous three months. Although private industrial orders showed an 11% increase in the year to October compared to the previous year, there was a 13% fall compared with the previous three months and an 8% decline compared with the same period a year earlier.