For January
Provided by: Australian Industry Group
Previous Release: PDF

For November
Provided by: Australian Industry Group
Official Release: PDF

From the Release: "The national construction industry contracted slightly in November following the return to modest growth over the previous two months. This weaker result was underpinned by falls in new orders, activity and employment and highlighted the fragility and ongoing toughness of industry conditions."

For OCtober
Provided by: Australian Industry Group
Previous Release: PDF

For September
Provided by: Australian Industry Group
Official Release: PDF

From the Release: "■ The national construction industry returned to modest growth in September 2009 following 18 months of contraction, with the improvement driven by stronger demand, most notably in the house building sector.
■ The seasonally adjusted Australian Industry Group/ Housing Industry Association Performance of Construction Index® rose by 8.4 points to 50.8, to be above the critical 50 points no-change level for the first time since February 2008.
■ By industry sector, growth was confined to house building where the rate of growth in activity increased to its highest level since December 2007. The other key sectors, apartments, engineering and commercial construction, continued to register falls in activity, although rates of decline were less marked.
■ A number of firms in the house building sector indicated that the pipeline of work was returning to higher levels, with customer enquiries and order books maintaining growth in response to low interest rates and the stimulus from the First Home Owners Grant. Nevertheless, operating conditions remained difficult overall, with frequent reports of tight credit conditions and poor investor sentiment having an on-going negative impact on activity.
■ On an aggregate industry basis, activity was on par with the 50 points no-change level, having been in decline for the previous 18 months, while new orders and supplier deliveries posted slight growth to signal firmer overall demand conditions."

For August
Provided by: Australian Industry Group
Official Release: PDF

From the Release:

■ "The national construction industry continued to decline in August 2009, although the rate of contraction was less marked than the previous month.
■ This was indicated by a rise of 2.9 points in the seasonally adjusted Australian Industry Group/ Housing Industry Association Performance of Construction Index (Australian PCI®) from 39.5 to 42.4 in August. Nevertheless, this reading remained below the critical 50 points no change level, to signal on-going weakness in overall industry conditions.
■ Reductions in engineering and commercial construction were the main negative influences on activity in August. However, work on house building projects exhibited further resilience and increased for a second consecutive month, while the pace of decline eased considerably in the apartment sector."

For July
Provided by: Australian Industry Group
Previous Release: PDF

For June
Provided by: Australian Industry Group
Official Release: PDF

From the Release: "The national construction industry registered a further, and accelerated, decline in June 2009, following the moderation in the pace of contraction over the previous three months. The seasonally adjusted Australian Industry Group/ Housing Industry Association Performance of Construction Index (Australian PCI®) fell by 4.3 points to 42.6 in June, to remain below the critical 50 points no-change level for a 16th consecutive month.

Firms linked the persistent weakness in industry conditions to the deteriorating economy and low business confidence which had led to continuing delays in tenders and cutbacks on new construction projects. However, there were a number of reports citing the positive impact of low interest rates and the First Home Owners Grant in supporting house building activity."

For May
Provided by: Australian Industry Group
Official Release: PDF

From the Release:

■ "The national construction industry continued to decline in May 2009, although the rate of contraction was the slowest in the past 14 months.
■ This was indicated by a rise of 10.4 points in the seasonally adjusted Australian Industry Group/Housing Industry Association Performance of Construction Index® from 36.5 to 46.9 in May. Nevertheless, this reading remained below the 50 points no-change level, to signal on-going weakness in overall industry conditions.
■ Despite most sectors registering continued falls in activity, the rate of decline moderated for work undertaken on commercial, house, and apartment building projects, while engineering construction activity posted its first increase in the past 10 months, albeit at a marginal pace.
■ Where falls in activity were recorded, this was mainly linked by firms to strong competition for available work, the postponement of projects and low investor confidence. However, helping to moderate the rate of decline in the house builder sector, were reports of an improvement in customer enquiries and sales due to the impact of low interest rates and the First Home Owners Grant.
■ On an aggregate industry basis both activity and new orders posted on-going declines in May, resulting in firms continuing to reduce their workforces although at a less marked rate than the previous month."

For 4th Quarter
Provided by: Australian Bureau of Statistics

For 3rd Quarter
Provided by: Australian Bureau of Statistics

For 2nd Quarter
Provided by: Australian Bureau of Statistics

Construction work done fell in the second quarter to a total value of AU$30.137B from an upwardly revised AU$30.967B, a decline of 2.6%. This headline change is exagerrated because 1st quarter figures were revised up twice as much as first estimated. Still, the numbers were below forecasts of a 1.5% gain. This indicator has been cyclical from quarter to quarter since Q3 2007, going up one quarter only to be followed with a decline. The trend estimate rose 0.7% in the June quarter.Residential building work rose 0.1%, while non-residential fell 0.6%, and the trend estimate for building work done fell 0.2%. the only other component, engingeering work, rose 1.7%, while the seasonally adjusted estimate fell 6.0%.

Australia's housing market has seen some deceleration of growth, but basically avoided the arms of the US subprime meltdown. House prices have been maintained, although home loans are harder to come by because of credit conditions and high borrowing cost. There is somewhat of a contraction in the housing market, but it is not alarming.

For 1st Quarter
Provided by: Australian Bureau of Statistics

Construction activity in Australia rebounded in the March quarter, indicating steady growth in the sector, particularly engineering. The 2.3% rise helped offset the revised 0.8% decline for the December quarter.The number means that construction should be a positive for GDP figures set to come out next Wednesday. As some sectors of the economy lose steam, it seems that construction work which totaled A$16.45 billion, seasonally adjusted, is one sector that continues to grow. 

For 4th Quarter
Provided by: Australian Bureau of Statistics

Consturction spending turned negative in the 4th quarter.