31.10.201806:50:00UTC+00Japan Housing Starts Decline More Than Expected In September

Japan's housing starts decreased in September, after rising in the previous month, at a faster than expected pace, figures from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism showed on Wednesday.

The number of new dwelling starts dropped 1.5 percent year-on-year following a 1.6 percent increase in August. Economists had forecast a 0.6 percent fall.

In September, there were 81,903 housing starts compared to 81,860 in the previous month and 83,128 a year ago.

Annualized housing starts fell to 943,000 from 957,000 in the previous month.

Data also showed that construction orders received by big 50 contractors rose 1 percent year-on-year in September after a 0.5 percent increase in August. Orders grew for a second straight month.