Australian construction industry recovery stalls in November

The national construction industry moved back into contraction in November, with the Australian Industry Group/Housing Industry Association Australian Performance of Construction Index (Australian PCI^®) dropping 8.0 points to 45.4. The loss of momentum was driven by a decline in activity and new orders across all four construction industry sub-sectors, which contributed to a steeper fall in construction employment and a sharp deceleration in deliveries from suppliers.

Across the four construction sub-sectors in the Australian PCI^®, house building continued to expand, but it decelerated to its slowest pace since March 2014. Apartment building activity also recorded an easing in the rate of growth in response to a second consecutive month of declining new orders. Engineering construction exhibited weaker conditions in November, with activity declining at a steeper pace in November, while commercial construction also moved into contraction, ending four months of growth.

"Survey respondents attributed this month's deterioration in conditions to a decline in new tendering opportunities, slow public building activity, project delays and a further decline in new mining-related construction projects,” said Ai Group Chief Economist, Julie Toth. “While one month's data does not necessarily indicate a new trend, this slower pace of building activity was also reflected in slightly lower building approvals for detached houses in October and September (released this week) and in the latest GDP estimates for 3Q for Australia. These data really underscore the fragile and sporadic nature of the current recovery in residential housing activity, especially as we move into the end of year shutdown period for much of the industry."

"The weakening in the Australian PCI^® in November was driven by a variety of components, of which a broad-based contraction in new orders is the most concerning,” added HIA Chief Economist, Harley Dale. “Perceptions regarding Australia's short-term economic outlook have dampened recently and today's result will hardly buoy the prevailing mood. The rate of expansion in detached house and apartment building activity slowed in November, but at least both these sub-indices remained in the black. It will be disappointing if the rate of expansion in these Australian PCI^® components fails to re-accelerate in coming months given new home construction is currently the key domestic sector with promise of healthy activity in 2015."

Australian PCI^® highlights

• In November, the Ai Group/HIA Australian Performance of Construction Index (Australian PCI^®) contracted for the first time since May 2014, falling 8.0 points to 45.4.
• Significant decelerations were seen in the indexes for construction activity (down 6.7 points to 47.4), new orders (down 8.5 points to 44.0) and deliveries from suppliers (down 8.9 points to 50.1).
• Across the four sub-sectors: house building continued to expand, but at a slower rate of growth (down 5.5 points to 51.8); apartment building remains solid but dropped 2.4 points to 58.0; and commercial construction contracted for the first time since June 2014 (down 5.8 points to 46.0). Engineering construction continued to exhibit weaker conditions than the other sub-sectors (down 1.1 points to 45.3).
• The construction employment sub-index dropped steeply after four consecutive months of indicating growth (readings above 50 points), falling 8.5 points to 42.0.
• Pressures on profit margins remain strong: growth in the wages sub-index moderated slightly (down 1.2 points to 57.4); input costs picked up by 2.0 points to reach 74.5; and selling prices dropped by 6.0 points to 45.2, suggesting price cuts as builders seek to secure work in a tightening market.

Adapted from press release by Rosalie Starling

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/asia-pacific-rim/09122014/australian-construction-industry-recovery-stalls-in-november-977/