Private-sector house approvals in Australia fell by 4.2% month-on-month to 10,199 units in July 2026, confirming preliminary estimates and reversing a 0.8% rise recorded in June. This was the first decline since April and reflected weaker housing approval activity across all states. South Australia posted the largest fall (-10.7%), followed by 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 down, slipping 0.4% to 7,119 units, indicating a softening in momentum across the broader residential construction sector. On an annual basis, however, private house approvals were still 6% higher than in July 2025.
