Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Building Approvals show that the number of dwellings approved fell 0.1 per cent in December 2015, in trend terms, and has fallen for eight consecutive months. 
Dwelling approvals decreased in December in the Australian Capital Territory (21.9 per cent), Western Australia (3.1 per cent), Tasmania (0.8 per cent), New South Wales (0.4 per cent) and South Australia (0.4 per cent) but increased in the Northern Territory (1.8 per cent), Victoria (1.6 per cent) and Queensland (1.1 per cent) in trend terms.
In trend terms, approvals for private sector dwellings excluding houses fell 0.1 per cent in December. In contrast, approvals for private sector houses rose 0.1 per cent. Private sector house approvals rose in Queensland (0.8 per cent), Victoria (0.7 per cent) and South Australia (0.5 per cent) but fell in Western Australia (1.8 per cent) and New South Wales (0.2 per cent) in trend terms.
The seasonally adjusted estimate for dwelling approvals rose 9.2 per cent in December following a 12.4 per cent fall in November. The rise in December was driven by dwellings excluding houses (13.5 per cent). The largest state contribution to the rise in total dwellings in December came from Victoria (37.4 per cent).
The value of total building approved rose 0.2 per cent in December, in trend terms, after falling for four consecutive months. The value of residential building rose 0.1 per cent while non-residential building rose 0.4 per cent.
