Private sector house approvals in Australia rose 3.7% month-on-month to 10,885 units in August 2026, according to preliminary estimates, rebounding from a revised 1.9% decline in July. The increase marked the strongest monthly rise since July 2025, pointing to a renewed improvement in housing approval activity across most states. South Australia recorded the largest increase, with approvals jumping 27.7%, followed by Western Australia (8.6%), Queensland (6.5%), and Victoria (0.5%). New South Wales (-4.5%) was the only major state to record a decline. Approvals for private-sector dwellings excluding houses slipped 21.4% to 5674 units. On an annual basis, private house approvals rose 18.4% rising sharply from an 8.2% increase in July.