MEDIA RELEASE
January 6, 2011	Embargo: 11.30 am (Canberra time)	1/2011

ABS Building Approvals show that the total number of dwellings approved fell 4.2% in November 2010, in seasonally adjusted terms, after rising 8.3% in October.

According to the ABS, Victoria (3.1%), Queensland (3.3%) and Western Australia (7.1%) recorded more dwelling approvals this month while New South Wales (-13.4%) and South Australia (-2.7%) recorded fewer dwelling approvals in seasonally adjusted terms.

Private sector houses approved fell 1.7% with falls in New South Wales (-4.9%) and Victoria (-2.8%) while Queensland (4.1%) and Western Australia (0.9%) rose. South Australia remained steady.

The value of total building approved fell 3.5% in November in seasonally adjusted terms. The value of total residential building fell by 5.9% while non-residential building rose by 1.4%.

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

Media Note: Please ensure when reporting on ABS data that you attribute the Australian Bureau of Statistics (or the ABS) as the source.