Better month for home approvals but new building soft

Dwelling approvals lifted 7.5 per cent in October, following a four per cent decline in September. (Darren England/AAP PHOTOS)

The number of new dwellings approved by local governments picked up last month though home building generally remains sluggish.

Dwelling approvals lifted 7.5 per cent in October, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, which followed a four per cent decline in September.