2026.09.0801:44:22UTC+00Australia Building Approvals Confirm 3.6% Drop in July

Australia’s seasonally adjusted dwelling approvals fell 3.6% month-over-month to 17,687 units in July 2026, reversing a 6.9% rise in June, according to final estimates. The decline was largely driven by a 4.2% drop in approvals for private sector houses, which fell to 10,199 units, while approvals for private sector dwellings excluding houses edged down 0.4% to 7,119 units.

On an annual basis, total dwelling approvals were up 9.0%. Approvals for private sector houses increased 6.0% from a year earlier, and approvals for private sector dwellings excluding houses surged 19.9%. In trend terms, total dwelling approvals rose 0.8% to 18,365 units.

By state, total dwelling approvals declined in Queensland (-13.9%), New South Wales (-8.1%), and Western Australia (-0.3%), but increased in Tasmania (15.2%), Victoria (9.7%), and South Australia (5.9%).

The value of total residential building work approved fell 4.9% to AUD 11.26 billion, while the value of total non-residential building approvals rose 14.4% to AUD 9.93 billion.