Building work on the up

Building work on the up – Media release

6 March 2013

Building activity increased by a seasonally adjusted 1.8 percent in the December 2012 quarter, Statistics New Zealand said today.

"The volume of building activity in Canterbury continues to look strong, but the post-earthquake rebuild is not the sole driving force behind the national increase," industry and labour statistics manager Blair Cardno said. "The rest of New Zealand experienced comparable growth."

Canterbury's building activity value grew 1.5 percent (seasonally adjusted) in the December 2012 quarter, compared with 1.3 percent in the rest of New Zealand. In the September 2012 quarter, Canterbury's building activity value surged 30 percent, while the rest of New Zealand had a 5.0 percent increase.

The 1.8 percent national rise in activity volume for the December 2012 quarter followed an increase of 9.8 percent in the September 2012 quarter, which was the largest percentage increase in 10 years.

"Unadjusted building consent values were up 18 percent in the 2012 year, compared with the 2011 year," Mr Cardno said. "This rise has continued to flow through into building activity."

For the country overall, non-residential building activity increased 3.0 percent (seasonally adjusted) in the December 2012 quarter, while residential building activity increased 0.7 percent.

The trend for overall building activity continues to show strong growth during 2012.

ENDS

For more information about these statistics:
• Visit Value of Building Work Put in Place: December 2012 quarter
•
• Open the attached files
http://img.scoop.co.nz/media/pdfs/1303/ValueOfBuildingWorkDec12qtr.pdf

http://img.scoop.co.nz/media/pdfs/1303/vbwDec12qtrtables.xls

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