30.04.202605:00:00UTC+00Japan Construction Orders Swing Sharply Lower in March, Dropping 14.4% YoY

Japan’s construction sector saw a sharp reversal in momentum in March 2026, with construction orders falling 14.4% year-over-year, according to data updated on 30 April 2026. The decline follows a very strong performance in February 2026, when orders had surged 42.7% compared with the same month a year earlier.

The figures are reported on a year-over-year basis, meaning the current March reading compares the change in orders against March of the previous year, while the February figure reflected the change versus February a year earlier. The abrupt shift from robust double-digit growth to a double-digit contraction indicates a notable cooling in construction demand at the end of the first quarter, underscoring increased volatility in Japan’s building and infrastructure pipeline.