Sales of new houses has fallen in every state except Victoria.

The HIA’s New Home Sales Report, a survey of Australia’s largest volume builders, revealed after strong results in March new house sales nationally fell 3 per cent in April and units fell by 10.8 per cent.

Four of the five major capital cities recorded drops in house sales during the month with Western

Australia suffering the biggest drop of 19.8 per cent.

New South Wales sales were down 8.1 per cent, Queensland 7.8 per cent and South

Australia 1.3 per cent.

Victoria was the only state to record an increase with its house sales up by 14.3 per cent.

HIA economist Diwa Hopkins said the figures showed the peak of the cycle had passed.

But the April figures were not cause for concern as the drops were considered “very mild’’.

“This overall trajectory of total new home sales is consistent with our long-held expectations for new home building activity,’’ she said.

Ms Hopkins said 2016 to date had been a “bumpy ride’’ for house sales in New South Wales, with monthly swings of about eight per cent.

The figures showed an upswing in new house sales in Victoria in the past six months with the latest result the highest monthly jump in more than four years.

Queensland experienced a lift in sales in March of 13.2 per cent before a drop in April. Its monthly results have also been fairly up an down.

Ms Hopkins tipped the recent reduction in interest rates could help support new home sales throughout the rest of the year.

Sales of new houses in South Australia have continued to slide with the HIA tipping it could be a difficult year for the sector.

Western Australia’s monthly drop came on the back of increases for the past four months.

“Setting this latest result aside, the sliding level of sales that characterised 2015 appears to be

finding a floor and we expect to see evidence of that bottom to emerge over coming months,’’ the report said.