Retail trade and building approvals have slumped in WA, according to new figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
Nationally retail trade and building approvals rose in July, but they went backwards in Western Australia.
The total number of dwellings approved in July rose 2.3 per cent nationally to 13,732 seasonally adjusted, from an upwardly revised 13,425 units in June.
In the year to July, building approvals were up 11.0 per cent.
But in Western Australia home approvals were down 4.9 per cent in July.
It was worse for private sector house approvals in Western Australia, which fell by 14.4 per cent.
They also fell in Queensland by 18.3 per cent while all other states recorded an increase.
The ABS said retail trade was also up nationally by 0.7 per cent to a seasonally adjusted $20.4 billion, from an upwardly revised $20.250 billion in June.
The jump was higher than the 0.4 per cent forecast and was driven by a 5.3 per cent increase in café, restaurant and retail trade.
But in Western Australia sales fell by 1.8 per cent continuing the trend of recent months.
In January and February was 0.7 per cent and 0.6 per cent respectively.
There was growth of 0.5 per cent and 0.2 per cent in March and April respectively. In May, sales actually dropped by 0.3 per cent.
The ABS also reported real exports growth of 5.6 per cent in the quarter, outpacing imports growth of 3.0 per cent.
This additional net demand from overseas means "net exports" will add a further 0.4 percentages points to growth.
