Construction activity falls, tame building costs: Savanth Sebastian

Construction activity falls, tame building costs: Savanth Sebastian
Jonathan ChancellorNovember 23, 2016
GUEST OBSERVER

The latest construction data was certainly disappointing. Not only is construction work down over 11 percent on a year ago, but the falls were across an array of sectors.
 
Engineering and commercials continued to record the brunt of the weakness, while residential construction also fell from record highs. In addition the major states all recorded a fall in construction activity, with gains only in ACT, Tasmania and the Northern Territory.
 
 

The ‘baton pass’ from engineering to residential building was clearly the driver of activity over the last couple of years. In fact engineering work is down by 23.2 percent on a year ago – just shy of the biggest annual fall on record, as opposed to residential construction, which eased from record highs. The results are even more staggering when you consider that just over two years ago engineering work surpassed total building (residential and commercial) by more than $9 billion.

And while policymakers would not be overly concerned at present, a substantial pullback in residential activity would create a void that could cause concern. Essentially the hope would be that commercial and non-mining related business investment will lift over the coming year and provide the economy with a lift in momentum.

Inflation in the building sector is healthy without being excessive. Not only was inflation flat in the September quarter but the annual rate of construction inflation eased back to 2 per cent. Interestingly recent construction industry reports forecast a rise in hourly rates over the medium term at unionised building sites due to new enterprise bargaining agreements and labour shortages.
 
In addition recently signed agreements suggest a 20 percent lift in wages over the next 4 years on some sites. Overall a lift in inflation in the building sector would not concern the Reserve Bank at present given the lack of inflation across the rest of the economy.  
 
Today’s data is unlikely to alter the Reserve Banks thinking when it comes to rates. Focus now turns to the June quarter business investment data released on December 1. And while the Reserve Bank will be particularly interested in estimates of completed non-mining investment, there will be a much greater focus on future spending plans - especially in light of the fact that private sector construction activity continues to disappoint.
 
What do the figures show?
 
Construction Work

Construction work done fell by 4.9 percent in real (inflation-adjusted) terms in the September quarter after sliding by 3.1 percent in the June quarter. Work done is down by 11.1 percent on a year ago. Public sector construction work fell by 0.2 percent in the quarter while private sector activity fell by 6.0 percent.

Construction work fell in five of the states and territories in the September quarter. Leading the falls was Western Australia (down 13.6 percent), followed by Victoria (down 6.9 percent), South Australia (down 1.3 percent), NSW (down 2.1 percent) and Queensland (down 0.2 percent). Construction rose in the ACT (up 7.1 percent), Tasmania (up 4.7 percent), and the Northern Territory (up 0.6 percent).

Engineering work fell by 3.8 percent in the September quarter. Engineering construction is down by 23.2 percent on a year ago – just shy of the biggest annual fall on record.

Commercial (non-residential) building fell by 10.9 per cent in the September quarter to be down 7.6 percent over the year. 
 
Residential building fell by 3.1 per cent in the September quarter and was up by 6.3 percent over the year. Alterations & additions fell by 0.6 percent in the quarter while new residential work fell by 3.4 percent.

The measure of inflation in the construction sector (deflator) was flat in the September quarter. The annual rate of construction inflation fell from 2.6 percent to 2.0 percent. Engineering prices fell by 0.7 percent in the quarter (up 1.7 percent over the year) while building prices rose by 0.6 percent in the quarter (1.9 percent over the year).

Click to enlarge

What is the importance of the economic data?

 The Bureau of Statistics releases quarterly estimates of Construction work done. The estimates are based on a survey and cover around 85 per cent of the construction work done in the period. Revised estimates will be released in coming months. The data is useful largely for historical purposes but the work yet to be done estimates provide an early warning signal of future activity. The residential work figures give a good early guide to the strength of residential investment in the national accounts.

What are the implications for interest rates and investors?

There is still plenty of work in the construction sector. But there are winners and losers across states and industry sectors. The Reserve Bank will not be overly concerned with the current trends in construction. Overall activity is correcting as expected and adjusting to the new realities.

CommSec expects the cash rate to remain on hold over the foreseeable future. 
 
Savanth Sebastian is an economist for CommSec

Jonathan Chancellor

Jonathan Chancellor is one of Australia's most respected property journalists, having been at the top of the game since the early 1980s. Jonathan co-founded the property industry website Property Observer and has written for national and international publications.

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