The total number of building permits issued in Australia was down a seasonally adjusted 3.5 percent on month in March, the Australian Bureau of statistics said on Monday, standing at 15,958.
That missed forecasts for a gain of 2.0 percent following the 5.0 percent decline in February.
On a yearly basis, permits climbed 20.0 percent - also shy of forecasts for 31.2 percent and slowing from 23.2 percent in the previous month.
Consents for private sector houses eased 0.7 percent on month and climbed 19.4 percent on year to 9,224, while consents for private sector dwellings excluding houses dropped 7.0 percent on month but gained 21.6 percent on year to 6,528.
The value of total building approved fell a seasonally adjusted 11.0 percent in March and has fallen for three months.
The value of residential building fell 3.2 percent following a rise of 0.2 percent in the previous month. The value of non-residential building fell 23.3 percent and has fallen for three months.
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