UK construction orders down 27% on last year

Highs and lows: construction orders are 27% down compared with the same three month period last year

11 April 2012

British construction orders have fallen 27% on the same three month period compared with last year, the Office for National Statistics said.

Orders also fell 9% in the three months to November compared with the previous three months, as the economic downturn continued to hit the industry hard.

Orders were down 27% in the three month period compared with the same period last year, the Office for National Statistics said.

The ONS said construction orders for private housing were 3% down in the three months to November compared with the previous three months, and were 55% lower than a year ago.

Construction firms have suffered as the credit crunch has made banks tighten up on mortgage lending, squeezing the lifeblood out of the housing market and depressing house prices.

Housebuilder Redrow Plc said this week it expected 2009 to be an extremely difficult year.

Private and public infrastructure orders fell 48% in the three-month period and were 40% lower on the year, while public non-housing orders rose 9% in the three months to November, and were 43% higher on the year.