Building approvals slump to decade lows
2023-03-06
Woeful building approvals figures were reported recently, with seasonally adjusted dwelling approvals falling to their lowest levels in over a decade (since 2012) in January according to ABS figures.
Non-residential approvals also fell by -25.6 per cent over the month.
Key statistics
The January 2023 seasonally adjusted estimate:
Total dwellings approved fell 27.6%.
Private sector houses approved fell 13.8%, while private sector dwellings excluding houses fell 40.8%.
The value of total building fell 18.6%.
The value of non-residential building fell 25.6%.
Source: ABS
The monthly numbers are very choppy, of course, but these figures generally appear to point to an accelerating downtrend.
There is still a long supply pipeline under construction too, but this weak result now takes annual approvals to a 25-month low.
The interesting thing is that these figures area seasonally adjusted upwards, so the actual number of monthly approvals was around -20 per cent lower.
Big city shortages
Sydney saw only 384 attached dwellings approved in the month, as unit rents continue to accelerate.
Detached house approvals are also slowing in Sydney, suggesting a chronic shortage of housing over the coming few years as regional migrants return to the office and as immigration hits record levels.
Western Australia saw the lowest level of approvals on record, even lower than their 1983 nadir.
Overall, these were pretty dire numbers, suggesting some major challenges for capital city housing ahead.
Non-residential approvals also fell by -25.6 per cent over the month.
Key statistics
The January 2023 seasonally adjusted estimate:
Total dwellings approved fell 27.6%.
Private sector houses approved fell 13.8%, while private sector dwellings excluding houses fell 40.8%.
The value of total building fell 18.6%.
The value of non-residential building fell 25.6%.
Source: ABS
The monthly numbers are very choppy, of course, but these figures generally appear to point to an accelerating downtrend.
There is still a long supply pipeline under construction too, but this weak result now takes annual approvals to a 25-month low.
The interesting thing is that these figures area seasonally adjusted upwards, so the actual number of monthly approvals was around -20 per cent lower.
Big city shortages
Sydney saw only 384 attached dwellings approved in the month, as unit rents continue to accelerate.
Detached house approvals are also slowing in Sydney, suggesting a chronic shortage of housing over the coming few years as regional migrants return to the office and as immigration hits record levels.
Western Australia saw the lowest level of approvals on record, even lower than their 1983 nadir.
Overall, these were pretty dire numbers, suggesting some major challenges for capital city housing ahead.
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