Private-sector house approvals in Australia declined by 4.2% month-on-month to 10,199 units in July 2026, according to preliminary estimates, reversing a 0.4% rise recorded in June. The downturn was broad-based across the states, led by South Australia (-10.7%), Queensland (-5.5%), Victoria (-4.1%), New South Wales (-4.0%), and Western Australia (-0.1%).
Approvals for private-sector dwellings excluding houses also edged lower, falling 0.4% to 7,119 units. On a yearly basis, private house approvals were still up 6.0%, though this represented a notable slowdown from the 15.8% annual increase seen in June.
