The value of Building Activity by value of work done in Australia fell by 1% in the March '17 quarter according to the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics data. The trend estimate fall was compared to the December '16 quarter. For the corresponding quarter in 2016 it represented a fall of 1.5%.
The data also revealed the trend estimate of total dwelling units commenced in March quarter '17 fell by 4.3% compared to December '16 quarter.
The statistics relate to building activity which includes construction of new buildings and alterations and additions to existing buildings.
The summary of findings were:
BUILDING WORK DONE
The trend estimate of the value of total building work done fell 1.0% in the March 2017 quarter.
The seasonally adjusted estimate of the value of total building work done fell 2.4% to $26,410.4m in the March quarter, following a rise of 2.2% in the December 2016 quarter.
NEW RESIDENTIAL BUILDING WORK DONE
The trend estimate of the value of new residential building work done fell 1.5% in the March quarter. The value of work done on new houses fell 1.2% while new other residential building fell 1.9%.
The seasonally adjusted estimate of the value of new residential building work done fell 4.4% to $15,290.7m. Work done on new houses fell 2.5% to $8,198.9m, while new other residential building fell 6.5% to $7,091.8m.
NON-RESIDENTIAL WORK DONE
The trend estimate of the value of non-residential building work done was flat in the March quarter.
The seasonally adjusted estimate of the value of non-residential building work done in the quarter rose 1.7%, following a rise of 3.1% in the December 2016 quarter.
TOTAL DWELLINGS
The trend estimate for the total number of dwelling units commenced fell 4.3% in the March 2017 quarter following a fall of 4.4% in the December quarter.
The seasonally adjusted estimate for the total number of dwelling units commenced fell 11.4% to 50,395 dwellings in the March quarter following a fall of 0.1% in the December quarter.
NEW PRIVATE SECTOR HOUSES
The trend estimate for new private sector house commencements fell 5.4% in the March quarter following a fall of 3.9% in the December quarter.
The seasonally adjusted estimate for new private sector house commencements fell 7.9% to 25,979 dwellings in the March quarter following a fall of 3.8% in the December quarter.
NEW PRIVATE SECTOR OTHER RESIDENTIAL BUILDING
The trend estimate for new private sector other residential building commencements fell 3.4% in the March quarter following a fall of 4.8% in the December quarter.
The seasonally adjusted estimate for new private sector other residential building fell 15.3% to 23,015 dwellings in the March quarter following a rise of 1.9% in the December quarter.
