The construction and manufacturing industries had the largest decreases in sales in the June 2025 quarter, out of the 14 industries measured by business financial data, Stats NZ said today.
Construction sales were down $720 million compared with the March 2025 quarter.
Business financial data provides estimates of operating income (sales) and expenditure for most market industries in New Zealand. Unless specified, all sales data are adjusted to account for seasonal effects, but do not compensate for inflation and price effects.
"Construction sales fell 3.1 percent in the June 2025 quarter, following a 0.7 percent rise in the March 2025 quarter," economic indicators spokesperson Michelle Feyen said.
"Building activity is also estimated by the value of building work put in place. Both measures are telling a similar story, with decreases in most quarters over the last two years."
| Quarter | Construction sales | Value of building work put in place |
| Jun-22 | 0.1 | 4.7 |
| Sept-22 | 3.8 | 7.9 |
| Dec-22 | 5.2 | 0 |
| Mar-23 | -3.6 | 0.2 |
| Jun-23 | 5.9 | 1.9 |
| Sept-23 | 0.1 | -1.1 |
| Dec-23 | -1.8 | 1.6 |
| Mar-24 | -3.7 | -3.5 |
| Jun-24 | 0.5 | -2.5 |
| Sept-24 | -2.7 | -4.1 |
| Dec-24 | -2.2 | -4.3 |
| Mar-25 | 0.7 | 1.8 |
| Jun-25 | -3.1 | -2.2 |
Value of building work put in place only measures activity that required a building consent, while construction sales include a wider range of construction services and civil engineering projects. Additionally, construction sales separately count the sales of each subcontractor involved in a job.
Construction sales as measured by business financial data were $22.3 billion in the June 2025 quarter. The value of building work put in place was $7.9 billion, or 35 percent of construction sales.
"In the June 2025 quarter, construction sales were 11 percent lower than in the June 2023 quarter," Feyen said.
"The value of building work put in place decreased 14 percent over the same period."
After adjusting for price changes and inflation, building activity volumes decreased by 18 percent over the two years to the June 2025 quarter.
Value of building work put in place: June 2025 quarter has more information on building work in New Zealand.
Construction decrease has flow-on effect
Overall manufacturing sales decreased by 3.0 percent in the June 2025 quarter, to $33.4 billion. Many materials used in construction are produced by three manufacturing industry groups. Their sales decreased this quarter, as detailed below.
- Non-metallic mineral product manufacturing sales were down 4.9 percent in the June 2025 quarter. The industry includes glass, brick, cement, plaster, and concrete manufacturing.
- Metal product manufacturing sales were down 5.1 percent in the June 2025 quarter. The industry includes steel and aluminium frames, reinforcing, structures, and roofing manufacturing.
- Wood and paper products manufacturing sales were down 3.2 percent in the June 2025 quarter. The industry includes plywood, timber and wooden joinery, frame, truss and structural component manufacturing.
Of the three, non-metallic mineral product manufacturing has the closest relationship with New Zealand construction sales, and both have trended downwards in recent quarters. The production of cement, plaster, concrete and concrete products makes up a large part of this industry.
| Quarter | Construction | Non-metallic mineral product manufacturing |
| Jun-22 | 0.1 | 0.8 |
| Sept-22 | 3.8 | 2.1 |
| Dec-22 | 5.2 | -4.2 |
| Mar-23 | -3.6 | -0.5 |
| Jun-23 | 5.9 | 0.6 |
| Sept-23 | 0.1 | -1.6 |
| Dec-23 | -1.8 | 0.2 |
| Mar-24 | -3.7 | -5.4 |
| Jun-24 | 0.5 | 2.9 |
| Sept-24 | -2.7 | -2.9 |
| Dec-24 | -2.2 | -0.5 |
| Mar-25 | 0.7 | 0.6 |
| Jun-25 | -3.1 | -4.9 |
