GREEN SHOOTS

摘要

Each week Building will ask an expert to analyse the latest evidence of green shoots, and see if it stands up to scrutiny. This week Simon Rawlinson, partner in Davis Langdon, examines the statistics April's improved new orders figures from the Office of National Statistics - up 17% on March - brought some cheer, with encouraging signs of activity from housebuilding and other sectors. However, given that the first quarter numbers were the worst since records began in 1983, recovery is a Way off - volumes are 40% down on this time last year.