The number of dwellings approvals in Australia rose unexpectedly by 19.1 percent month-over-month in February 2019, easily beating market estimates of a 1.0 percent fall and following a downwardly revised 2.3 percent gain in the previous month. It was the biggest increase in building permits since September 2013, mainly driven by a jump in approvals for private sector dwellings excluding houses (64.6 percent to 7,998 units). In contrast, permits for private sector houses fell by 3.6 percent to 8,970 units. Among the states and territories, total dwelling approvals grew the most in Victoria (37.3 percent), followed by New South Wales (25.2 percent), South Australia (6.8 percent), and Queensland (3.3 percent), while declined in Western Australia (-10.8 percent). Through the year to February, total dwelling units approved dropped 12.5 percent. Building Permits in Australia averaged 0.35 percent from 1983 until 2019, reaching an all time high of 31.80 percent in May of 2012 and a record low of -21.90 percent in December of 2017.