Building permits show quarterly and annual growth in Q2 2026

In Q2 2026, residential building permits increased 3.8% quarter-on-quarter in number of dwellings and 1.4% in useful floor area. Year-on-year, dwellings in new buildings rose 8.0% and floor area increased 7.3%. Non-residential building permits grew 2.0% quarter-on-quarter and 5.1% year-on-year, reversing a prior downward trend.

Why it matters. These indicators reflect changing construction activity, which affects housing supply, economic output, employment in construction and related sectors, and demand for materials and financing.