The Australian Bureau of Statistics released its building permits data on Wednesday. Building permits in Australia rose 9.2% in December, exceeding expectations for a 5.0% gain, after a 12.4% drop in November. November's figure was revised up from a 12.7% decrease.

Building permits for private sector houses climbed 5.4% in December, while building permits for private sector dwellings excluding houses jumped 12.8%.

The seasonally adjusted estimate of the value of total building approved was up 1.1% in December, after a 3.8% decline in November.

On a yearly basis, building permits fell 2.5% in December, after a 8.4% decrease in November.