NZ residential building consents edge up in January, led by new housing, apartment permits

NZ residential building consents edge up in January, led by new housing, apartment permits
Paul McBeth
By Paul McBeth March 2 (BusinessDesk) - New Zealand residential building consents edged higher in January as permits for new houses, apartments and townhouses made up for a decline in retirement unit applications.  Seasonally adjusted consents increased 0.2 percent in January to 2,445, with new permits for houses rising 3.7 percent to 1,715 and snapping five months of declines, Statistics New Zealand said.  "Stand-alone houses drove the small growth in new home consents in January," construction statistics manager Melissa McKenzie said...