Dwelling approvals continue to fall in April

30 May 2023

The total number of dwellings approved fell 8.1 per cent in April, in seasonally adjusted terms, following a 1.0 per cent decrease in March, according to data released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

Daniel Rossi, ABS head of construction statistics, said: “Total dwellings approved fell to the lowest level since April 2012. The overall decline was driven by a fall in approvals for private sector dwellings excluding houses, which fell 16.5 per cent, to the lowest level since January 2012.

 “Private sector house approvals also continued to decline, falling 3.8 per cent in April, following a 3.7 per cent decrease in March”.

Across Australia, total dwelling approvals were mixed, with falls in Queensland (-22.8 per cent), Victoria (-18.6 per cent), and Western Australia (-5.8 per cent). Meanwhile, rises were recorded in South Australia (+19.8 per cent), New South Wales (+12.5 per cent), and Tasmania (+3.5 per cent).

Approvals for private sector houses fell in Victoria (-9.3 per cent), Queensland (-6.0 per cent), and New South Wales (-1.7 per cent). South Australia (+10.8 per cent) and Western Australia (+0.1 per cent) rose in April.

The value of total building approvals rose 4.7 per cent, following a 5.7 per cent fall in March. The value of total residential building approvals fell 2.5 per cent, comprised of a 2.7 per cent decrease in new residential building and a 1.2 per cent fall in alterations and additions.

The value of non-residential building approvals increased 13.5 per cent, following a 5.1 per cent fall in March.