07 May 2012

Embargo: 11.30 am (Canberra time)

65/2012

ABS Building Approvals show that the number of dwellings approved rose 7.4% in March 2012, in seasonally adjusted terms, following a fall of 8.8% in February.

Dwelling approvals increased for the month of March in New South Wales (49.3%), Western Australia (11.1%) and South Australia (4.2%), but decreased in Queensland (-8.7%), Tasmania (-6.7%), and Victoria (-5.0%) in seasonally adjusted terms.

In seasonally adjusted terms, approvals for private sector houses rose 3.9% in March with rises in South Australia (16.3%), Western Australia (14.5%), New South Wales (3.5%) and Queensland (1.8%). Victoria fell (-1.0%).

The value of total building approved decreased 8.9% in March in seasonally adjusted terms, following a decrease of 31.7% in February. The value of residential building rose 1.3% while non-residential building fell 23.4%.

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.