Australia house price index dropped -2.4% qoq in Q4, deepened from Q3’s -1.5% qoq and missed expectation of -2.0% qoq. Sydney led the way by dropped -3.7% qoq, followed by Melbourne at -2.4%. Hobart (up 0.7%) and Adelaide (up 0.1%) bucked the trend.
Through the year growth in residential property prices fell -5.1% yoy in the December quarter 2018. Falls were recorded in Sydney (-7.8 per cent), Melbourne (-6.4% yoy), Darwin (-3.5% yoy), Perth (-2.5% yoy) and Brisbane (-0.3% yoy).
Chief Economist for the ABS, Bruce Hockman said: “While property prices are falling in most capital cities, a tightening in credit supply and reduced demand from investors and owner occupiers have had a more pronounced effect on the larger property markets of Sydney and Melbourne.”
