“Residential building approvals in July 2023 continue to tread at very low levels, with this month’s decline led by a relatively sharper fall in multi-units,” stated Tom Devitt, HIA Senior Economist.
“Residential building approvals in July 2023 continue to tread at very low levels, with this month’s decline led by a relatively sharper fall in multi-units,” stated Tom Devitt, HIA Senior Economist.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics today released its monthly building approvals data for July for detached houses and multi-units covering all states and territories.
“Total building approvals decreased by 8.1 per cent in the month of July, which was driven by a 19.9 per cent dip in multi-unit approvals. The decline in approvals for detached houses was far more modest, declining by only a 0.1 per cent in the month,” added Mr Devitt.
“The slower rate of decline for detached house approvals is a welcome development, as it follows a succession of material monthly declines since the interest rate tightening cycle began.
“Over the three months to July, detached house approvals are 16.2 per cent lower the same three-month period in 2022, while multi-unit approvals are 7.8 per cent lower.
“At these very low levels, monthly building approvals are bound to bounce and present a degree of volatility. It does not yet indicate a material change in market conditions which remain dampened.
“In context of the chronic shortage of housing there is a strong focus on improving the supply of new housing, however efforts to improve supply are yet to appear in the approvals data. The continued supply-demand imbalance has wide-ranging implications not only for the housing market but for the wider economy,” concluded Mr Devitt.
In seasonally adjusted terms, decreases were led by Victoria (-18.3 per cent), followed by Queensland (-5.5 per cent), Western Australia (-5.2 per cent), New South Wales (-4.7 per cent) and South Australia (-2.6 per cent). In original terms, the Northern Territory saw a decline of 26.3 per cent. Tasmania (+47.8 per cent) and the Australian Capital Territory (+52.6 per cent) saw monthly increases.