80% of builders expect home building to slow after Budget decisions
New home sales fell 4.6% in June, marking a second consecutive monthly decline. Builders are pessimistic about the outlook following recent Budget decisions, with 80% expecting home building activity to slow.
New home sales dropped 4.6% in June, the second consecutive monthly decline, signalling a cooling pipeline for construction trades.
Will the Budget slow down new home building and affect my trade workload?
Builders and related trades face fewer new home contracts ahead. Slower housing starts will directly reduce work for plumbers, electricians, and carpenters reliant on new builds.
Key takeaways
- 80% of builders expect home building activity to slow following recent federal Budget decisions.
- New home sales fell 4.6% in June, the second month in a row of declining sales.
- Higher interest rates and policy uncertainty are dampening consumer confidence in new builds.
- Trades dependent on new housing starts โ plumbers, electricians, carpenters โ may see fewer jobs ahead.
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