JOURNAL OF FACTS
Housing
Established house prices (preliminary) in Canberra increased by 0.7% in the December quarter 2008 and decreased by 4.1% annually. This compares to a decrease of 0.8% for the December quarter and 3.3% annually across the weighted average of the eight capital cities. In the year to December 2008 established house prices in Darwin exhibited the largest increase (3.8%). While those in Perth exhibited the largest decrease (-6.7%).
In trend terms, the number of housing commitments for owner occupation in the ACT, was 711 in November 2008. This was down on the number recorded in November 2007 (851) and up from October 2008 (708). The value of these commitments in November 2008 was $191 million(trend), similar to $1 million from October 2008 and down on the previous year (November 2007 $210m).
In original terms, the average loan size (derived) for ACT owner occupiers was $269,000 in November 2008, down from $272,900 in October 2008 and up from $244,800 in November 2007.
In trend terms, the number of dwelling units approved in the ACT, decreased by 31 (-17%) in December 2008 to151, from 182 in November 2008. Approvals for dwelling units also decreased from December 2007 down 11 ( -7%).
Retail Trade
Retail turnover in the ACT for December 2008 was $366 million in seasonally adjusted terms. This was up $10 million (3.0%) on November 2008 and up $20 million (5.7%) on December 2007. Comparatively, retail turnover increased by 3.8% from November 2008 to December 2008 and increased by 5.6% between December 2007 and December 2008, for Australia as a whole.
Sources
House Price Indexes: Eight Capital Cities, December 2008 (cat. no. 6416.0).
Housing Finance, Australia, December 2008 (cat. no. 5609.0).
Building Approvals, Australia, December 2008 (cat. no. 8731.0).
Retail Trade, Australia, December 2008 (cat. no. 8501.0).
