Fresh DTI figures show new construction orders fell by 1% in the three months to February 2005, compared to the same period a year earlier.
But orders rose by 1% during the period when compared to the previous three months, due to a rise in private commercial insructions. All other sectors fell.
Construction orders rose 6% for the year to February, with private housing growing by 12% and public housing and housing association instructions up by 14%.
Private housing orders fell by 2% in the three months to February, compared with the previous period, while public housing and housing association instructions were 37% down.
