1 March 2016

Embargo: 11.30 am (Canberra time)

21/2016

ABS building approvals show that the number of dwellings approved fell 1.0 per cent in January 2016, in trend terms, continuing a 10 month decline.

Dwelling approvals decreased in January in the Australian Capital Territory (11.3 per cent), Northern Territory (9.5 per cent), New South Wales (3.5 per cent), Western Australia (1.8 per cent) and Tasmania (1.7 per cent), but increased in Victoria (1.3 per cent), South Australia (0.3 per cent) and Queensland (0.1 per cent) in trend terms.

Also in trend terms, approvals for private sector houses rose 0.1 per cent in January, while approvals for private sector dwellings excluding houses fell 2.3 per cent.

Private sector house approvals rose in Victoria (1.0 per cent), South Australia (0.7 per cent), New South Wales (0.6 per cent) and Queensland (0.1 per cent). A fall in trend private sector houses was seen in Western Australia (3.2 per cent).

The seasonally adjusted estimate for dwelling approvals fell 7.5 per cent in January following an 8.6 per cent rise in December. The fall in January was driven by both houses (6.1 per cent) and dwellings excluding houses (9.1 per cent).

The largest contributors to the overall fall in seasonally adjusted total dwelling approvals by state were New South Wales (22.9 per cent), Queensland (13.3 per cent) and Tasmania (11.1 per cent).

The value of total building approved fell 1.8 per cent in January, in trend terms, and has fallen for seven months. The value of residential building fell 2.0 per cent while non-residential building fell 1.3 per cent.

Further information is available in Building Approvals, Australia (cat no. 8731.0) on the ABS website at www.abs.gov.au

Media note:

• When reporting ABS data you must attribute the Australian Bureau of Statistics (or the ABS) as the source.
• Media requests and interviews - contact the ABS Communications Section on 1300 175 070 (8.30am-5pm Mon-Fri)..