Australia Private House Approvals Hit 8-Month High

Private house approvals in Australia rose by 2.8% month-over-month to 10,537 units in May 2026, according to preliminary estimates, rebounding from a revised 0.4% decline in the previous month. The latest reading marked the highest since September 2025, driven by higher approvals in Western Australia (9.9%), New South Wales (7.8%), and Victoria (2.2%), which offset declines in Queensland (-3.6%) and South Australia (-1.0%). On an annual basis, private house approvals rose by 13.2% in May, the strongest growth since September 2024, and accelerating from an upwardly revised 8.3% increase in the preceding period.

Private house approvals in Australia fell by 1.0% month-over-month to 10,088 units in April 2026, in line with initial estimates and reversing a 0.5% rise in the previous month. The latest reading also marked the first month of decline since last November. Regionally, private sector house approvals decreased in New South Wales (-13.8%) and Western Australia (-1.2%), while increasing in South Australia (11.4%), Victoria (2.2%), and Queensland (0.9%). On an annual basis, private house approvals rose by 7% in April, marking the softest growth in five months and slowing from a strong 12.4% gain in the preceding period.

Private house approvals in Australia fell by 1.0% month-over-month to 10,088 units in April 2026, slipping from a downwardly revised 0.5% rise in the previous month, preliminary estimates showed. The latest reading also marked the first month of decline since last November. Regionally, private sector house approvals decreased in New South Wales (-13.8%) and Western Australia (-1.2%), while increasing in South Australia (11.4%), Victoria (2.2%), and Queensland (0.9%). On an annual basis, private house approvals rose by 7% in April, marking the softest growth in five months and slowing from an upwardly revised 12.4% surge in the preceding period.