The total number of dwellings approved rose 5.5 per cent in May, after a 1.9 per cent rise in April, according to seasonally adjusted data released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
Daniel Rossi, ABS head of construction statistics, said: "The rise in approvals in May was driven by private sector dwellings excluding houses which rose 16.3 per cent."
"Private sector house approvals also rose by 2.1 per cent."
Total dwelling approvals rose in all states, with Western Australia leading the rise, up 19.6 per cent. This was followed by Victoria (8.9 per cent), Queensland (6.3 per cent), South Australia (4.1 per cent), Tasmania (3.8 per cent) and New South Wales (2.9 per cent).
Meanwhile, approvals for private sector houses increased in Western Australia (8.4 per cent), New South Wales (5.9 per cent) and Queensland (3.7 per cent) but fell in Victoria (-3.4 per cent) and South Australia (-1.9 per cent).
The value of total building approved rose 0.6 per cent (to $13.0b). This followed a 0.7 per cent fall in April. The value of total residential building rose 2.3 per cent (to $7.6b). This was made up of a 4.4 per cent rise in new residential building and a 9.3 per cent fall in alterations and additions.
The value of non-residential building approved fell 1.6 per cent (to $5.4b), after a 0.7 per cent rise in April.
