The latest New Construction Orders Statistical Release in October 2006 shows an increase of orders by 8 percent in comparison to the previous one year. However, orders in the three months leading to October 2006 fell by 6 percent in comparison to the prevoius three months. There were increases in public housing, infrastructure and public non-housing orders, but orders for private housing, private industrial and private commercial sectors fell.

In comparison to the previous year, private housing orders fell by 5 percent, and by 6 percent in comparison to the previous three months leading to October. In contrast, the public housing and housing association orders rose by 45 percent incomparison to the previous year, and by 58 percent in comparison to the previous three months.

These National Statistics are produced to standards set out in the National Statisticsd Code of Practice, which are highly professional, and they undergo quality assurance reviews periodically.