The number of dwellings approved in Australia rose by 0.1 per cent in June 2018 in trend terms, according to data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) today. We suspect the MSM will fixate on the less reliable seasonal results, which show a significant bounce in approvals.
Among the states and territories, dwelling approvals rose in June in the Australian Capital Territory (5.8 per cent), South Australia (5.6 per cent), Northern Territory (4.8 per cent), Tasmania (2.2 per cent), Western Australia (1.7 per cent) and New South Wales (0.2 per cent) in trend terms.
Dwelling approvals fell in trend terms in Queensland (1.6 per cent) and Victoria (1.2 per cent).
In trend terms, approvals for private sector houses fell 0.6 per cent in June. Private sector house approvals fell in Western Australia (1.4 per cent), Victoria (0.9 per cent) and New South Wales (0.8 per cent), but rose in South Australia (0.4 per cent). Private house approvals were flat in Queensland.
In seasonally adjusted terms, total dwellings rose by 6.4 per cent in June, driven by a 7.2 per cent increase in private dwellings excluding houses. Private houses rose 5.0 per cent in seasonally adjusted terms.
The value of total building approved fell 0.8 per cent in June, in trend terms, and has fallen for seven months. The value of residential building rose 0.3 per cent, while non-residential building fell 2.9 per cent.
“The rise was driven by private dwellings excluding houses, which increased by 1.1 per cent in June.” said Justin Lokhorst, Director of Construction Statistics at the ABS. “This was offset by a 0.6 per cent fall in private sector houses.”
