The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Building Approvals show that the number of dwellings approved fell 0.7 per cent in July 2015, in trend terms, and has fallen for five months.
Dwelling approvals decreased in July in Tasmania (5.6 per cent), Victoria (3.1 per cent), South Australia (2.1 per cent), Western Australia (1.8 per cent) and Queensland (0.8 per cent) but increased in the Northern Territory (7.3 per cent), Australian Capital Territory (4.4 per cent) and New South Wales (1.9 per cent) in trend terms.
In trend terms, approvals for private sector houses fell 0.5 per cent in July. Private sector house approvals fell in Western Australia (2.3 per cent), Victoria (1.5 per cent) and South Australia (1.4 per cent) but rose in Queensland (1.2 per cent) and New South Wales (0.8 per cent).
The value of total building approved rose 0.6 per cent in July, in trend terms, and has risen for three months. The value of residential building fell 0.4 per cent while non-residential building rose 2.9 per cent in trend terms.