The number of dwellings approved fell 4.4 per cent in December, according to the recently released ABS Building Approvals figures. The fall comes after a 3.4 per cent rise in November.

Tasmania recorded the largest fall, with a 21.8 per cent freefall in approvals, followed by a 12.3 per cent contraction in Victoria and a 1.3 per cent fall in New South Wales. Queensland recorded the largest increase in approvals, with 7.9 per cent, while South Australia recortded a 1.7 per cent bump and 1.3 per cent for Western Australia.

In seasonally adjusted terms, approvals for private sector houses fell 3.3 per cent in December. Private sector house approvals fell in Victoria by 12.7 per cent and Western Australia by 2.2 per cent.

The value of total building approved fell 1.9 per cent in December, in seasonally adjusted terms, and has fallen for three months. The value of residential building fell 3.0 per cent while non-residential building rose 0.1 per cent.

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