The Tracker A Very Slight Improvement

摘要

The construction industry remained downbeat in November, although the rate of decline slowed as the activity index rose two points to reach 35 - the first increase for 10 months. The star performer was the civil engineering sector, which gained eight points to 41. At the other end of the scale, non-residential activity declined by two points to 37, its lowest level since July 1991. Despite an increase of five points to 32 in the residential sector's index, it remained the lowest of the three indices. Orders and tender enquiries remained depressed. The orders index fell by three points in November to reach 42, the point it was at in June 1993. Of those surveyed, 44% considered their order books to be below normal and only 15% said they were above normal. However, the civil engineering orders index was up to 58 from 40, pointing towards higher than normal orders for the first time since January.