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News: Australian residential construction slows

Fewer new homes and units were built in the December quarter of 2005 as the Australian housing market slumped, reports The Australian this week.

According to figures released on Tuesday by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), dwelling unit commencements fell 7.5 per cent in the December quarter to 35,846 units, seasonally adjusted, from an upwardly revised 38,761 units in the September quarter.  In the year to December 2005, total dwelling starts fell 8.4 per cent, adjusted.

New private sector house commencements fell 2.9 per cent to 25,060 in the December quarter 2005.  New private other residential building starts, including units, fell 16.6 per cent to 9,617 in the same period, the lowest level since the June quarter 2001, the ABS said.

Construction did accelerate in some areas, however.  Despite falls in all other states and territories, new private sector housing starts were up in New South Wales (+ 1.5 per cent), South Australia (+ 5.9 per cent) and the Northern Territory (+ 2 per cent).

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