NZ residential building activity rises 2.9% in third quarter, offsetting fall in commercial work

NZ residential building activity rises 2.9% in third quarter, offsetting fall in commercial work
Jonathan Underhill
By Jonathan Underhill Dec. 3 (BusinessDesk) - Residential building activity rose in the third quarter, offsetting a decline in non-residential building and pushing overall activity on a trend basis to the highest level in 10 years. Residential activity rose 2.9 percent, seasonally adjusted, in the three months ended Sept. 30, following a 0.7 percent decline in the second quarter, Statistics New Zealand said. Non-residential activity fell 2.6 percent, for an overall gain of 0.5 percent. The trend for all building work rose 1 percent and ex...