FX.co ★ Australian Building Approvals Bounce Back in February with 10.8% Annual Rise

Australia’s building approvals staged a strong rebound in February 2026, rising 10.80% year-over-year, according to data updated on 1 April 2026. The turnaround follows a sharp decline of 15.70% in January 2026 on the same year-over-year basis, highlighting a marked shift in activity across the construction sector.

The figures compare the change in approvals each month against the same month a year earlier, indicating that February’s improvement more than offset the previous month’s weakness. While broader interpretation will depend on subsequent releases, the move from a double‑digit annual contraction to a double‑digit expansion suggests renewed momentum in Australia’s pipeline of residential and non-residential construction projects. Investors and policymakers will be watching upcoming data to see whether February’s jump signals the start of a more sustained recovery in building approvals.