XN000022-1996-10-18 — Page 23

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Construction output for 2nd quarter of 1996

The gross value of construction work, in nominal terms, performed by main contractors, including general and special trade contractors, amounted to $27.6 billion in the second quarter of 1996, according to the results of the Quarterly Survey of Construction Output released today (Friday) by the Census and Statistics Department.

This represented an increase of 12.6% over the same quarter last year.

Based on the provisional estimate, the gross value of construction work, measured at constant (1990) market prices, performed in the second quarter of 1996 increased by 5.7% over the same quarter last year.

The gross value of construction work, in nominal terms, performed at public sector sites amounted to $11.2 billion, representing an increase of 16.4% in nominal terms and 11.7% when measured at constant (1990) market prices over the same quarter last year.

The gross value of construction work, in nominal terms, performed at private sector sites totalled $9.9 billion, representing an increase of 12.8% over the same quarter last year. When measured at constant (1990) market prices, it was up by 3.3%.

The gross value of construction work, in nominal terms, performed by general contractors at locations other than construction sites amounted to $3.8 billion, 2.5% lower than in the second quarter of 1995.

When measured at constant (1990) market prices, the corresponding decrease was 8.1%. Work in this category included minor new construction activities and renovation work at erected buildings and structures.

The gross value of construction activities, in nominal terms, performed by special trade contractors at locations other than construction sites, comprising mainly electrical and mechanical fitting work, totalled $2.6 billion, 22% higher than in the second quarter of 1995. When measured at constant (1990) market prices, the corresponding increase was 12.2%.

Analysed by end-use, transport projects, which covered airport construction projects, still accounted for the greatest portion of the gross value of construction work performed at construction sites.

The gross value of construction work performed for these projects was $6.4 billion, representing an increase of 13.6% over the second quarter of 1995.