Private sector leads construction growth

Construction work last year rose by 4% in volume, despite a decrease in infrastructure work, according to the latest figures from the Department of Trade & Industry. Overall, new work rose. Repair and maintenance was unchanged, with decreases in non-housing sectors offsetting increases in housing refurbishment and maintenance. The total volume of new work in 2004 was 7% higher than the previous year, but unchanged in the fourth quarter compared with the previous quarter. Repair and maintenance work was unchanged in 2004, but was 2% higher in the final quarter compared with that before. New private commercial output was 6% higher than 2003 and 3% higher in the fourth quarter than the previous quarter The private industrial sector also saw growth, with new work up by 10% year on year and 6% higher in the final quarter than the previous quarter. In the housing sector, new private work was 13% higher than the previous year and the final quarter was 1% higher than the one before. New public-sector work was 20% high (on a small base figure) than the previous year, but the final quarter was 10% lower than the previous quarter.