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BUILDING ACTIVITY

• In the December quarter 2008, the number of new houses commenced increased by almost 20% (to 4,019 in original data terms), after a large decrease in the previous quarter. However, the number commenced was down 6% on the figure for the December quarter 2007 (4,262).
• By contrast, there was a steep quarterly fall in other residential commencements, to 427. This was only one quarter (23%) of the number recorded in the previous quarter and only 31% of the number in the same quarter in 2007. It was also the second lowest figure since the series began.
• In the December quarter 2008, there was a general decrease in the number of residential buildings under construction. Houses under construction fell by 8% while the figure for other residential buildings decreased by almost 13%. The total number of residential buildings under construction (18,741) was down by 6% in comparison with the December quarter 2007 (19,941) .
• In the last quarter of 2008, there was a substantial rise in the number of new houses (31%) and other residential buildings completed (36%), following a significant decrease in the previous quarter. However, in comparison with the December quarter 2007, the number of residential buildings completed was down by just under 4%.

2 Building Activity, by number of dwelling units and stage of production: Original
		New houses	New other residential building	Total residential building(a)
Reference period		no.	no.	no.
Commenced
2006-2007		19 896	4 752	24 647
2007-2008		16 924	5 347	22 272
2007
	December	4 262	1 381	5 643
2008
	September	3 354	1 856	5 210
	December	4 019	427	4 446
Under construction at end of reference period
2006-2007		15 057	6 440	21 497
2007-2008		13 145	7 244	20 388
2007
	December	13 623	6 318	19 941
2008
	September	12 716	8 117	20 833
	December	11 660	7 082	18 741
Completed
2006-2007		20 952	3 881	24 834
2007-2008		18 739	4 475	23 214
2007
	December	4 965	1 571	6 536
2008
	September	3 801	982	4 783
	December	4 968	1 335	6 302
(a) Excludes total alterations and additions, refurbishments and conversions.
Source: Building Activity, Australia, cat. no. 8752.0.