November figures set new low of under 拢2bn
Monthly construction orders for November 2008 fell to the lowest since records began in January 1983, according to government figures.
Overall, 拢1.8bn of orders were placed in November 2008, down 39% on the same month in 2007.
Orders in the three months to November 2008 fell by 9% compared with the previous three-month period.
Figures from the Office for National Statistics also show a sharp fall of 14% since October, predominantly on collapsing commercial development orders, down 35% to 拢518m from 拢793m the previous month.
Infrastructure orders in the three months to November 2008 fell by 48% compared with the previous three-month period.
It was not all bad news, however. Public non-housing orders increased in the three months to November 2008 by 9% compared to the previous three-month period, and rose by 43% compared with the same three-month period a year earlier. Orders in the 12 months to November 2008 rose by 31% compared with the previous 12-month period.
Source
Electrical and Mechanical Contractor