The number of dwellings approvals in Australia rose by 0.7 percent month-over-month in May 2019, easily beating market expectations of a flat reading and rebounding from a downwardly revised 3.4 percent fall in the previous month. The upturn was driven by permits for private sector dwellings excluding houses (1.2 percent vs -5.1 percent in April). In addition, the approvals for private sector houses fell less (-0.3 percent vs -1.5 percent). Among the states and territories, total dwelling approvals increased in Victoria (14.4 percent), while was flat in New South Wales, and there were declines in Queensland (-6.3 percent), Western Australia (-4.7 percent), South Australia (-2.9 percent), and Tasmania (-1.2 percent). Building Permits in Australia averaged 0.31 percent from 1983 until 2019, reaching an all time high of 31.80 percent in May of 2012 and a record low of -21.80 percent in November of 2002.