Construction orders show general rise in all sectors

Private commercial orders in the construction industry in the year to June were 10% higher than the previous year. Orders in the second quarter of 2004 were 29% higher than in the same period a year earlier. In contrast, orders in the second quarter of 2004 fell by 9% compared to the previous quarter. Private industrial orders were up on all measures. There was a 10% year-on-year rise and a 9% rise on the previous quarter. Orders for the second quarter were 19% higher than the same period last year. In the public sector non-housing sector (excluding infrastructure), figures continue to be affected by the exceptionally high level of public miscellaneous orders in December 2002. Orders in the second quarter rose by 2% compared with the previous quarter and were 22% higher than the same period a year earlier. Public-housing and housing-association orders in the year to June rose by 10% compared to the previous year. Orders in the second quarter of this year rose by 23% compared to the previous quarter and by 24% compared to the same quarter a year earlier. In the private sector, housing orders rose by 3% compared ot the previous year. Orders in the second quarter were down by 6% on the previous quarter by 6% higher than the same quarter a year earlier.