LONDON (AFX) - The total volume of new orders received by contractors for construction work in the three months to April was up 2 pct on a seasonally adjusted basis, compared with the previous three months, leaving it 2 pct up on the same period a year earlier, the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions said.
Private commercial orders were unchanged on the previous three months for a 13 pct year-on-year rise, while public non-housing orders (excluding infrastructure) were 5 pct ahead on the previous three months and 11 pct lower from a year ago.
New orders in the private housing sector in the period were up 10 pct compared with the previous three months which left them 3 pct lower year-on-year, while infrastructure orders fell 6 pct for a 2 pct year-on-year fall.
Private industrial orders rose 12 pct in the latest three months, leaving them unchanged on the year.