Building approvals dropped by 1.2 per cent in June, resuming their downward trajectory after the previous month's brief respite.

Approvals for private sector houses rose 0.4 per cent on a seasonally adjusted basis, but the "other dwellings" category that includes apartment blocks and townhouses fell 6.5 per cent.

Over the 12 months to June, total building approvals for dwellings fell by 25.6 per cen...