Construction activity drops further due to weaker orders

[Green_Bear]

Construction activity fell for the fifth month running in October when the sector declined at a marked rate. The latest fall has been linked by firms to weaker new orders, according to new figures from Ulster Bank.
The bank’s Construction Purchasing Managers Index (PMI), a seasonally adjusted index designed to measure the overall performance of the construction economy, stood at 43.5, compared with 41.6, with the rate of contraction slightly weaker than in September when activity declined at the sharpest rate since July 2003. Once the figure is below 50, the index is falling.
According to Pat McArdle, a rebound in the construction index from very weak September levels was not expected and happened elsewhere in Europe. >>>>

Construction activity drops further due to weaker orders
independent.ie/business/iris … 17157.html

[verbatim]

[code]=============================================================================
Oct. Sept. Aug. July June
2007 2007 2007 2007 2007

Total Activity 43.5 41.6 43.8 47.5 46.8
Housing Activity 25.2 29.5 31.4 33.8 32.5
Commercial Activity 52.5 49.5 49.9 52.7 51.4
Civil Engineering Activity 52.2 42.0 44.6 51.6 50.6

[/code]