The number of dwellings approved in Australia fell by 3.2 per cent in January 2019, in trend terms, according to data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) today.
"The trend for the total dwelling approvals series has steadily declined over the past year," said Justin Lokhorst, Director of Construction Statistics at the ABS. "The series is now at its lowest level since May 2013."
The decrease in January was driven by private sector dwellings excluding houses (e.g. townhouses and apartments), which fell 8.1 per cent in trend terms. Private sector houses also declined, by 0.4 per cent.
Among the states and territories, total dwelling approvals fell in January in the Australian Capital Territory (19.8 per cent), the Northern Territory (8.0 per cent), Victoria (4.5 per cent), Queensland (3.9 per cent), New South Wales (2.3 per cent) and South Australia (0.8 per cent) in trend terms. Western Australia (2.2 per cent) and Tasmania (1.4 per cent) recorded increases.
Approvals for private sector houses fell 0.4 per cent in January in trend terms. Queensland (1.4 per cent), New South Wales (0.6 per cent) and Victoria (0.3 per cent) declined, while increases were recorded in South Australia (2.3 per cent) and Western Australia (0.2 per cent).
In seasonally adjusted terms, total dwellings rose by 2.5 per cent in January, driven by rises in Western Australia (28.8 per cent), Tasmania (15.4 per cent) and New South Wales (12.0 per cent). Private dwellings excluding houses rose 2.7 per cent, while private houses also increased (by 2.1 per cent).
The value of total building approved fell 1.5 per cent in January, in trend terms, and has fallen for 14 months. The value of residential building fell 2.7 per cent, while non-residential building rose 0.4 per cent.
TOTAL DWELLING UNITS
- The trend estimate for total dwellings approved fell 3.2% in January.
- The seasonally adjusted estimate for total dwellings approved rose 2.5% in January.
PRIVATE SECTOR HOUSES
- The trend estimate for private sector houses approved fell 0.4% in January.
- The seasonally adjusted estimate for private sector houses rose 2.1% in January.
PRIVATE SECTOR DWELLINGS EXCLUDING HOUSES
- The trend estimate for private sector dwellings excluding houses fell 8.1% in January.
- The seasonally adjusted estimate for private sector dwellings excluding houses rose 2.7% in January.
VALUE OF BUILDING APPROVED
- The trend estimate of the value of total building approved fell 1.5% in January and has fallen for 14 months. The value of residential building fell 2.7% and has fallen for 12 months. The value of non-residential building rose 0.4% and has risen for five months.
- The seasonally adjusted estimate of the value of total building approved rose 1.3% in January. The value of residential building fell 2.0%, while the value of non-residential building rose 6.4%.