The availability of home building trades remains in short supply despite improving modestly at the end of last year, according to the HIA-Austral Bricks Trades Report for the December 2006 quarter.
The price of thirteen key home building trades rose by 1.2% over the December quarter to be up by 3.5% over the year.
HIA’s chief economist Harley Dale the price pressure in the west is not evident nationally.
“In aggregate trade prices are running close to the rate of general inflation and in most regions of Australia trade prices are actually sitting below that general rate,” he added.
On a state by state basis, quarterly trade prices increased by 3.4% in Brisbane, 2.8% in Perth, 2.5% in Regional Queensland, 1.8% in Regional Victoria, 1.1% in Sydney, 0.8% in Adelaide, 0.2% in Regional NSW, and 0.1% in Melbourne. Prices fell by 3.9% in Regional South Australia and 3.3% in Regional Western Australia.
On an individual trade basis, the largest increases in prices over the quarter were in painting, up 5.7%, plastering and landscaping, both up 2.5%, and bricklaying, up 2.4%.
Australian Property Journal
