Private house approvals in Australia rose by 0.2% month-on-month to 9,847 units in February, confirming preliminary estimates, following a 1.7% increase in the previous period. This marked the fourth straight monthly gain, albeit the softest in the current sequence. Across the region, private sector houses increased in New South Wales (+13.7%), Victoria (+7.7%), and South Australia (+5.8%). Meanwhile, private house permits declined in Queensland (-13.4%) and Western Australia (-7.1%). On an annual basis, private house approvals rose 6.1%, easing from an 8% increase in January.