Australia’s building approvals turned negative in September 2026 on a year-over-year basis, signaling a loss of momentum in the construction pipeline after a strong result in the previous month. According to data updated on 2 November 2026, approvals fell by 0.80% compared with September a year earlier.
The latest figure marks a sharp reversal from August 2026, when building approvals had risen 12.10% year-over-year. Both the current and previous readings are measured as year-over-year changes, comparing each month with the same month in the prior year.
The downturn in September suggests that the earlier surge in approvals may have been short-lived, and could point to emerging headwinds for the construction and broader property sectors if the negative trend persists in coming months.
