30.04.202605:00:00UTC+00Japan Housing Starts Plunge 29.3% in March, Deepening February Slump

Japan’s housing sector showed a sharp deterioration in March 2026, as housing starts dropped 29.3% year-over-year, according to data updated on 30 April 2026. The fall marks a severe acceleration from February 2026, when housing starts were already down 4.9% compared with the same month a year earlier.

The year-over-year comparison indicates that the pace of decline in new residential construction has intensified significantly. In February, the sector was experiencing a moderate contraction versus February 2025, but by March the downturn had deepened into a pronounced slump relative to March 2025.

The latest figures underscore mounting pressure on Japan’s construction and real estate activity, with the steep March decline pointing to weakening housing demand, tighter financial conditions, or a combination of both. Market participants and policymakers will be closely watching subsequent monthly releases to determine whether this marks the start of a prolonged downturn in residential investment.