The strength of the housing market continues to be a major driver of the construction industry, according to new DTI figures just released.
Overall construction orders for the year to August 2004 rose by 2%, compared to a year ago, with private housing accounting for a 9% increase and public housing an 18% jump.
Private housing instructions in the three months to August 2004 rose 17% compared with the same period a year earlier, while public housing enjoyed a 35% boost.
Elsewhere, infrastructure orders fell 25% for the year; public non-housing suffered a 3% reverse; and private industrial orders were down 1%. Private commercial orders rose by 12%.
