Jun 5 2007
The total volume of construction output in the year to the first quarter of 2007 rose by two per cent compared to the previous year. Overall new work rose over the same period, with increases in all sectors except infrastructure and public non-housing output. Repair and maintenance fell, with an increase in private non-housing being more than offset by decreases in private housing and public non-housing. Output in the first quarter of 2007 rose by one per cent compared to the fourth quarter of 2006 in volume terms and by two per cent in current prices.
The total volume of new work in the year to the first quarter of 2007 rose by five per cent compared with the previous year but remained unchanged in the first quarter when compared with the previous quarter. The total volume of repair and maintenance work fell by one per cent in the year to the first quarter of 2007 compared with the previous year, but was two per cent higher in the first quarter of 2007 compared to the previous quarter.
New private housing work in the year to the first quarter of 2007 was two per cent higher compared with the previous year but the first quarter of 2007 was two per cent lower than the previous quarter. New work in the public housing sector in the year to the first quarter of 2007 was 24 per cent higher (on a small base figure) compared with the previous year and the latest quarter was 33 per cent higher than the previous quarter. New infrastructure output in the year to the first quarter of 2007 was nine per cent lower compared with the previous year but the first quarter of 2007 rose by one per cent compared with the previous quarter.
New construction work in the private industrial sector in the year to the first quarter of 2007 was eight per cent higher compared with the previous year, but fell by three per cent in the latest quarter compared with the previous quarter. New private commercial output in the year to the first quarter of 2007 was 14 per cent higher compared to the previous year but fell by one per cent in the first quarter of 2007 compared to the previous quarter. New work in the public non-housing sector (excluding infrastructure) in the year to the first quarter of 2007 fell by three per cent compared to the previous year and by one per cent compared with the previous quarter.
Housing repair and maintenance work (including improvement work) in the public sector was unchanged in the year to the first quarter of 2007 compared with the previous year but was eight per cent higher in the most recent quarter compared with previous quarter. Housing repair and maintenance work in the private sector in the year to the first quarter of 2007 was three per cent lower compared with the previous year but was unchanged in the first quarter of 2007 compared to the previous quarter.
Repair and maintenance work in the public non-housing sector in the year to the first quarter of 2007 was eight per cent lower compared with the previous year, but was two per cent higher in the most recent quarter compared with the previous quarter. Repair and maintenance work in the private non-housing sector in the year to the first quarter of 2007 was four per cent higher compared with the previous year but was unchanged in the most recent quarter compared with the previous quarter.
The seasonally adjusted number of employees in employment in April 2007 was two per cent higher compared with January 2007 and was four per cent higher when compared with April 2006. Total employment (including the self-employed) in April 2007 rose by three per cent compared with January 2007, and was three per cent higher compared with April 2006.