But 15% more orders were won in the three months from March to May than in the previous quarter. Orders for the second quarter were 3% up on the same period last year.
New orders in private housing were 12% up on the first quarter but 8% down on the corresponding quarter last year. Public housing and housing association orders were unchanged from the previous quarter but down 18% on the second quarter of 1998.
Public non-housing work rose almost a third on the previous three months and was 124% up on the same period last year. Private industrial orders saw a 9% rise on the previous quarter, but a 16% drop on the same period a year ago. And private commercial orders were 15% up on the previous three months and 20% up on the same period in 1998.
