31 October 2012

Embargo: 11.30 am (Canberra time)

169/2012

ABS Building Approvals show that the number of dwellings approved rose 7.8% in September 2012, in seasonally adjusted terms, and has risen for 2 months.

Dwelling approvals increased in September in New South Wales (22.8%), Victoria (5.2%) and Queensland (2.6%) but decreased in Tasmania (-9.6%), Western Australia (-2.4%) and South Australia (-1.3%) in seasonally adjusted terms.

In seasonally adjusted terms, approvals for private sector houses rose 1.2% in September. Private sector house approvals rose in Western Australia (4.7%), Victoria (3.3%), South Australia (1.7%) and New South Wales (1.3%) but fell in Queensland (-3.6%).

The value of total building approved rose 3.2% in September, in seasonally adjusted terms, and has risen for 2 months. The value of residential building rose 12.5% while non-residential building fell 12.3%.

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.