Levels of building activity in the South African market for new housing showed divergent trends in the first four months of 2015, with volumes in the planning phase growing while volumes in the construction phase declined from the corresponding period in 2014. This divergent course in levels of residential building activity originated from opposite trends on a segment level in both the planning and construction phases. These trends are based on data published by Statistics South Africa in respect of building activity related to private sector-financed housing.