Home Starts Building

Jul 21, 2011 | No Responses

Building work commenced on new homes is increasing, especially in Queensland, New South Wales and the Northern Territory, according to data released this week by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

The ABS figures show that the total number of housing starts increased by 3.1 per cent, seasonally adjusted, in the March 2011 quarter.

The number of new private sector house commencements fell 1.9 per cent in the March quarter following a fall of 6.7 per cent in the December quarter.

Apartments fared better, with the seasonally adjusted estimate for new private sector other residential building rising 14.7 per cent in the March quarter following a rise of 6.1 per cent in the December quarter.

Housing starts increased by 7.7 per cent in New South Wales, 1.8 per cent in Victoria, 12.8 per cent in Queensland, and 114 per cent in the Northern Territory.

Commencements fell in the March 2011 quarter in South Australia (down by 2.9 per cent), Western Australia (down by 4.5 per cent), Tasmania (down by 9.3 per cent) and the Australian Capital Territory (down by 36.8 per cent).