The DETR said new work output fell 1% over the period to £31bn despite increases in the public and private housing and private commercial sectors.
But new work output increased 1% for the first quarter of this year compared with the previous three months.
Repair and maintenance work rose 1% to £26.9bn over the year and 3% to £6.83bn for the first quarter of 2001 compared with the final quarter of last year.