New home sales in Australia have risen for a fourth consecutive month.
The Housing Industry Association said new home sales increased by 4.2% in January, which reflects an increase of 4% in detached house sales and a 4.9% lift in multi-unit sales.
AAP reports new home sales increased by 10% over the three months to January, although sales volumes were still 6.4% lower compared to the same period a year earlier.
HIA chief economist Harley Dale said the upward trend over three months was crucial given the considerable weakness experienced through most of 2012.
Over the three months to January, detached house sales increased by 23.7% in New South Wales, 13.2% in South Australia, 10.8% in Victoria, and 7.6% in Western Australia. But they fell 3.1% in Queensland.
