The seasonally adjusted number of total dwellings approved in Australia tumbled 14.9% mom to a four-month low of 15,542 units in December 2025, reversing a 13.1% surge in the previous month and matching flash data. The sharp decline was largely driven by a steep fall in approvals for private sector dwellings excluding houses (-29.8% vs 29.6% in November), due to ongoing weakness in higher-density construction. Meanwhile, approvals for private sector houses slowed (0.4% vs 0.8%), pointing to softer momentum in detached housing activity. Regionally, building permits fell in Victoria (-32.2%), Queensland (-16.3%), New South Wales (-14.3%), Western Australia (-1.9%), and South Australia (-0.8%). In contrast, Tasmania posted a notable increase of 11.3%. On an annual basis, dwelling approvals rose 0.4%, slowing sharply from 19.4% surge in November, highlighting that the earlier upturn in permits is losing steam. source: Australian Bureau of Statistics

Building Permits MoM in Australia decreased to -14.90 percent in December from 13.10 percent in November of 2025. Building Permits MoM in Australia averaged 0.35 percent from 1983 until 2025, reaching an all time high of 30.90 percent in February of 2022 and a record low of -23.20 percent in January of 2023. This page includes a chart with historical data for Australia Dwelling Approvals MoM. Australia Building Permits MoM - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on February of 2026.

Building Permits MoM in Australia decreased to -14.90 percent in December from 13.10 percent in November of 2025. Building Permits MoM in Australia is expected to be 0.50 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the Australia Building Permits MoM is projected to trend around 0.60 percent in 2027, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-02-03 12:30 AM
Building Permits MoM Prel
Dec -14.9% 13.1% -5.7% -4.0%
2026-02-10 12:30 AM
Building Permits MoM Final
Dec -14.9% 13.1% -14.9% -14.9%
2026-03-03 12:30 AM
Building Permits MoM Prel
Jan -14.9%


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Average House Prices 1045.40 1016.70 AUD Thousand Sep 2025
Building Permits 15542.00 18255.00 Units Dec 2025
Building Permits MoM -14.90 13.10 percent Dec 2025
Building Permits YoY 0.40 20.20 percent Dec 2025
Construction Work Done -0.70 2.90 percent Sep 2025
Cotality Dwelling Prices MoM 0.80 0.50 percent Jan 2026
Home Loans MoM 65315.00 59064.90 AUD Million Dec 2025
Home Ownership Rate 66.00 66.20 percent Dec 2020
Investment Lending for Homes 39776.50 33816.00 AUD Million Sep 2025
Mortgage Rate 5.50 5.51 Percent Dec 2025
HIA New Home Sales MoM 4080.00 4857.00 Units Nov 2025
Private House Approvals MoM 0.40 0.80 percent Dec 2025
Residential Property Prices 4.78 4.03 Percent Sep 2025


Australia Building Permits MoM
In Australia, Dwelling Approvals MoM show the monthly change in the number of total dwelling units approved, including building activity carried out on existing buildings.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
-14.90 13.10 30.90 -23.20 1983 - 2025 percent Monthly
SA

News Stream
Slump in Australia Building Permits Confirmed
The seasonally adjusted number of total dwellings approved in Australia tumbled 14.9% mom to a four-month low of 15,542 units in December 2025, reversing a 13.1% surge in the previous month and matching flash data. The sharp decline was largely driven by a steep fall in approvals for private sector dwellings excluding houses (-29.8% vs 29.6% in November), due to ongoing weakness in higher-density construction. Meanwhile, approvals for private sector houses slowed (0.4% vs 0.8%), pointing to softer momentum in detached housing activity. Regionally, building permits fell in Victoria (-32.2%), Queensland (-16.3%), New South Wales (-14.3%), Western Australia (-1.9%), and South Australia (-0.8%). In contrast, Tasmania posted a notable increase of 11.3%. On an annual basis, dwelling approvals rose 0.4%, slowing sharply from 19.4% surge in November, highlighting that the earlier upturn in permits is losing steam.
2026-02-10
Australia Building Permits Slump in December
The seasonally adjusted number of total dwellings approved in Australia plunged 14.9% mom to a four-month low of 15,542 units in December 2025, reversing a downwardly revised 13.1% surge in the previous month, according to preliminary data. The sharp decline was largely driven by a steep fall in approvals for private sector dwellings excluding houses (-29.8% vs 29.6% in November), reflecting continued weakness in higher-density construction. Meanwhile, approvals for private sector houses slowed (0.4% vs 0.8%), pointing to softer momentum in detached housing activity. Regionally, building permits fell in Victoria (-32.2%), Queensland (-16.3%), New South Wales (-14.3%), Western Australia (-1.9%), and South Australia (-0.8%). In contrast, Tasmania posted a notable increase of 11.3%. On an annual basis, dwelling approvals rose 0.4%, slowing sharply from a downwardly revised 19.4% surge in November, suggesting that the earlier rebound in approvals is losing steam.
2026-02-03
Solid Rebound in Australia Building Permits Confirmed
The seasonally adjusted number of total dwellings approved in Australia surged 15.2% month-on-month to a near four-year high of 18,406 units in November 2025, matching a preliminary reading and swinging from a 6.1% decline in the previous month. It was the steepest monthly rise since May 2023, buoyed by a strong upturn in permits for private sector dwellings excluding houses (34.1% vs -13.5% in October). Also, approvals for private sector houses recovered modestly (1.3% vs. -1.3%). Geographically, building permits increased in New South Wales (28.7%), Victoria (23.8%), Queensland (34.2%), and South Australia (1.0%). In contrast, approvals declined in Western Australia (-14.1%) and Tasmania (-5.8%). On an annual basis, dwelling approvals climbed 20.2%, reversing a 1.1% fall in October.
2026-01-14