The provisional estimate shows that new orders between February and April of this year were 3% higher than the recalculated figures for the period November 1998 to January 1999.
The government’s statistics for the last quarter originally reported a dramatic 26% collapse in orders between December 1998 and February 1999 compared with the previous quarter.
The recalculated figures show that orders in the fourth quarter of 1998 were only 5% down on the third quarter and up 11% on the same period the previous year.
It is understood that a new computer system was to blame for the incorrect figures, which prompted widespread fears that construction was sliding into a deep recession.
Construction minister Nick Raynsford ordered an immediate investigation into the figures after industry complaints.
