Total sale and purchase agreements received for registration by the Land Registry in August was 7,121, a fall of 15.7% on July, and 10.4% on August last year.

Using a 12-month moving average, the figure for August represented a 0.7% fall on July, but a 51.1% rise on August 2003.

Total consideration of these agreements in the month was $18.1 billion, down 8.3% on July, but up 18.6% on August 2003.

Among the agreements, 5,716 were for residential units. This was down 17.3% on July, and 12.9% on August 2003.

Total consideration of these agreements in the month was $14.1 billion, down 11.8% on July, but up 15.9% on August 2003.