The value of buildings reported as completed (at current prices) increased by 4.6% (R1.9bn) in 2012 compared with 2011‚ Statistics SA (Stats SA) figures showed on Thursday. Increases were reported for non-residential buildings‚ and residential buildings‚ while a decrease was reported for additions and alterations during the period.

The real value of buildings reported as completed (at constant 2010 prices) decreased year on year by 0.7% (R280 million) in 2012. A large decrease was reported for additions and alterations‚ while increases we re reported for non-residential buildings and residential buildings during the period.

The seasonally adjusted real value of buildings reported as completed decreased by 12.5% during the fourth quarter compared with the third quarter of 2012. The biggest decrease was reported for non-residential buildings‚ followed by residential buildings and additions and alterations. The value of recorded building plans passed (at current prices) increased by 9.2% (R6.1bn) last year compared with 2011.

The biggest increase was reported for residential buildings (12.7% or R3.7bn)‚ followed by non-residential buildings (8.2% or R1.3bn) and additions and alterations (5.2% or R1.1bn). Six provinces reported year-on-year increases in the value of building plans passed during 2012. The increase in the value of building plans passed was dominated by Gauteng (contributing 7.0 percentage points or R4.6bn) and Western Cape (contributing 3.2 percentage points or R2.1bn).

The decrease reported for KwaZulu-Natal (contributing -2.7 percentage points or -R1.8bn) counteracted the increases reported for building plans passed to a certain extent‚ according to Stats SA. The real value of recorded building plans passed (at constant 2010 prices) increased year on year by 3.2% (R2bn) in 2012. The biggest increase was reported for residential buildings (6.5% or R1.8bn)‚ followed by non-residential buildings (2.1% or R326.6 million). A decrease was reported for additions and alterations (-0.5% or -R106.3 million).

The seasonally adjusted real value of recorded building plans passed increased by 7.1% during the fourth quarter compared with the third quarter of 2012. The biggest increase was reported for non-residential buildings (19.4%)‚ followed by residential buildings (10.1%). Additions and alterations decreased by 6.1% during the same period.