Building approvals slide in June

Building approvals fell sharply in June, missing expectations of a flat result, official data shows.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics data showed the number of buildings approved fell a seasonally adjusted 5 per cent to 15,659 in the month.

That compares to 16,425 approvals in May, seasonally adjusted.

Economists surveyed by Bloomberg had expected the figures to remain unchanged during the month.

Over the 12 months to June, building approvals were up 16 per cent, the Australian Bureau of Statistics said.

Approvals for private sector houses slipped 2.2 per cent in the month, while private sector dwellings excluding houses slid 10.5 per cent in the month.