8 Dec 2009

Residential building volume well down

11:29 am on 8 December 2009

The volume of residential building work carried out in the September quarter fell to its lowest level in eight years.

Latest figures from Statistics New Zealand show that the volume of residential building work is almost 40% below its peak two years ago.

The value of all building work during the period was just over $11 billion, which is down 16% on the same quarter a year ago.

The value of residential buildings fell by more than 25%, due to a fall in new dwellings.

ANZ senior economist Khoon Goh says the figures show the construction sector is still feeling the effects of the recession.