Building approvals fall 1.8% in August

The Australian Bureau of Statistics has released the official building approval figures for August.

Approvals for the construction of new homes fell 1.8 per cent in August, official data shows. (AAP)

Approvals for the construction of new homes fell 1.8 per cent in August, which was better than market expectations of a 6.0 per cent fall.

Over the 12 months to August, building approvals were up 10.1 per cent, the Australian Bureau of Statistics said on Tuesday.

Approvals for private sector houses fell 1.3 per cent in the month, and the 'other dwellings' category, which includes apartment blocks and townhouses, was down 3.6 per cent.