Construction orders show consistent growth in private-commercial sector

New orders for construction projects in the private-commercial sector continue to surge ahead, according to figures from the Department of Trade & Industry. The value of orders in this sector was 12% higher than the previous year and 18% higher than the previous quarter. They were also 27% higher than the same period a year earlier. All orders figures are seasonally adjusted and based on 2000 prices. Private-industrial orders fell sharply compared with the previous quarter, with a fall of 16%. Year-on-year figures, however, showed a 30% increase, with a 26% rise on the same period a year earlier. The picture for public-non-housing orders is erratic. There was a fall of 8% compared with the previous 12 months and a fall of 3% compared with the same period a year earlier. Compared with the previous quarter, however, there was a 10% rise.