Sale and purchase agreements for all types of building units in August rose 25.1% on the same month last year, to 8,907, the Land Registry says. But they were down 0.3% on July.

Using a 12-month moving average, the figure was up 1.3% on July, and 17.1% on the same month last year. Total consideration of the agreements was $29.8 billion, down 0.5% on July, but up 64.4% on the same month last year.

Of the sale and purchase agreements, 7,298 were for residential units, down 2.7% on July, but up 27.7% on the same month last year.