Japan May Construction Orders +9.2% Y/Y, Up 1st In 2 Months

TOKYO (MNI) – The value of construction orders received in May by
the 50 largest contractors in Japan rose 9.2% from a year earlier to
Y496.61 billion, the first year-on-year rise in two months, the Ministry
of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism said on Wednesday.

The May rise followed a decline of 25.0% in April and gain of 42.3%
in March. It compared with the record drop of 42.8% marked in July 2009.

The breakdown for the latest month follows (on-year changes in the
previous month in parentheses):

— Domestic private sector: +10.2% y/y at Y343.67 billion (vs.
-31.3%), the first y/y rise in two months.

— Public sector: -13.5% y/y at Y70.44 billion (vs. -18.9%), the
fourth consecutive y/y drop.

— Overseas: +130.4% y/y at Y42.55 billion (vs. +81.2%), the third
y/y rise in a row.

tokyo@marketnews.com
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