Latest News Stream - Housing Starts Yoy

Japan’s housing starts fell 2.7% year-on-year in September 2026, reversing a 6.1% increase in the previous month and missing market expectations for a 2.9% rise. This marked the first annual decline since March, as construction starts contracted across all major categories: owner-occupied housing (-3.4% vs 1.0% in August), rental housing (-1.6% vs 6.5%), built-for-sale homes (-4.5% vs 6.4%), prefabricated housing (-6.2% vs 12.3%), and two-by-four homes (-0.4% vs -0.9%).

Japan’s housing starts rose 6.1% year-on-year in August 2026, slowing from an 8.2% increase in the previous month and marking the mildest pace in the current five-month expansion streak. The latest result also fell short of market expectations for a 7.0% gain, as growth eased in rental housing (6.5% vs 10.0% in July) and built-for-sale homes (6.4% vs 14.6%). Meanwhile, owner-occupied housing growth accelerated slightly (1.0% vs 0.4%), while starts of issued housing rebounded sharply (228.6% vs -24.4%) and prefabricated housing returned to growth (12.3% vs -6.9%). Starts of two-by-four homes also declined at a softer pace (-0.9% vs -8.5%).

Japan’s housing starts increased 8.2% year-on-year in July 2026, slowing significantly from an 18.6% surge in the previous month. Still, the latest reading marked the fourth consecutive month of growth, surpassing market expectations of 7.9% growth. Owner-occupied homes rose just 0.4% (vs 15.7% in June), while rental housing growth eased markedly (10.0% vs 24.6%). In the meantime, built-for-sale homes continued to grow solidly (14.6% vs 14.2%). At the same time, starts of two-by-four homes fell further (-8.5% vs -7.4%), while prefabricated housing starts dropped 6.9%, reversing a 13.7% gain in June.

Japan’s housing starts increased 18.6% year-on-year in June 2026, easing significantly from a 33.9% surge in the previous month but marking the third consecutive month of growth. The latest reading also comfortably exceeded market estimates of a 12.8% increase, suggesting housing construction remained resilient despite the moderation. Growth slowed across major categories, including owner-occupied homes (15.7% vs. 31.8% in May), rental housing (24.6% vs. 33.3%), and built-for-sale homes (14.2% vs. 39.2%). Meanwhile, starts for two-by-four homes fell 7.4%, reversing a 24.8% increase in May. In contrast, prefabricated housing starts rebounded strongly, rising 13.7% after a 3.4% decline in May.

Japan’s housing starts surged 33.9% yoy in May 2026, sharply accelerating from a 11.4% increase in the previous month and marking the second straight month of expansion. It was also the fastest growth since March 2025, topping market expectations of 31.8%. Growth was broad-based across most segments, including owner-occupied homes (31.8% vs 19.5% in April), rental housing (33.3% vs 17.3%), built-for-sale housing (39.2% vs 3.4%), and two-by-four homes (24.8% vs 64.8%). In contrast, prefabricated housing fell 3.4%, swinging from a 11.1% increase in April.

Japan’s housing starts increased 11.4% yoy in April 2026, shifting from a 29.3% decline in the previous month and marking the first expansion since last October. However, the figure fell short of market expectations for a 15.5% rise. Growth was broad-based across all segments, including owner-occupied homes (19.5% vs -27.4% in March), rental housing (17.3% vs -35.2%), built-for-sale housing (3.4% vs -21.7%), prefabricated housing (11.1% vs -4.7%), and two-by-four homes (64.8% vs -28.4%).

Japan’s housing starts plunged 29.3% yoy in March 2026, worsening from a 4.9% decline in the previous month and underperforming market expectations for a 28.5% fall. This marked the fifth straight month of contraction and the steepest decline since May 2025, highlighting persistent weakness in the property sector amid higher construction costs and weak demand. Declines were broad-based across all segments, including rental housing (-35.2% vs -2.7% in February), owner-occupied homes (-27.4% vs -4.7%), built-for-sale housing (-21.7% vs -8.8%), prefabricated housing (-4.7% vs -2.2%), and two-by-four homes (-28.4% vs -7.7%).

Japan’s housing starts fell 4.9% yoy in February 2026, worsening from a 0.4% decline in the previous month and slightly missing market expectations for a 4.7% drop. This marked the fourth straight month of contraction and the steepest decline since last November, pointing to sustained weakness in the property sector amid higher construction costs and soft demand. Declines were broad-based across all segments, including rental housing (-2.7% vs -1.5% in January), owner-occupied homes (-4.7% vs 6.6%), built-for-sale housing (-8.8% vs -4.8%), prefabricated housing (-2.2% vs 5.1%), and two-by-four homes (-7.7% vs 8.7%).

Japan’s housing starts fell 0.4% yoy in January 2026, easing from a 1.3% drop in the previous month and beating market expectations of a 1.6% decline. It marked the third consecutive month of contraction, though the pace was the mildest since July 2024. Rental housing starts declined at a slower rate (-1.5% vs -3.4% in December). Meanwhile, owner-occupied homes rebounded (6.6% vs -1.8%), as did prefabricated housing (5.1% vs -6.1%). Starts for two-by-four homes also accelerated (8.7% vs 2.8%). In contrast, built-for-sale housing fell 4.8%, reversing a 1.9% increase in December.

Japan’s housing starts fell 1.3% year-on-year in December 2025, easing sharply from an 8.5% drop in the previous month and beating market expectations of a 4.1% decline. While marking the eighth contraction of the year, it was the mildest pace since September 2024. The slowdown reflected softer declines in starts for owner-occupied homes (-1.8% vs. -9.5% in November) and rental units (-3.4% vs. -5.5%). In contrast, built-for-sale housing returned to growth (1.9% vs. -11.3%), alongside a rebound in two-by-four homes (2.8% vs. -2.7%). Meanwhile, prefabricated housing contracted more sharply (-6.1% vs - 4.1%).

Japan’s housing starts fell 8.5% year-on-year in November 2025, missing market forecasts of a 0.4% increase and reversing a 3.2% gain in the previous month. It marked the seventh decline recorded this year, as weakness was broad-based across housing categories, including owned homes (-9.5% vs -8.2% in October), rented units (-5.5% vs 4.2%), built-for-sale homes (-11.3% vs 14.8%), prefabricated housing (-4.1% vs 9.2%), and two-by-four homes (-2.7% vs -3.8%).

Japan’s housing starts rose 3.2% year-on-year in October 2025, defying market expectations of a 5.2% decline and reversing a 7.3% fall in September. It was the first annual increase since March, driven by rebounds in rented units (4.2% vs -8.2%), built-for-sale homes (14.8% vs -8.3%), and prefabricated housing (9.2% vs -0.4%). However, weakness persisted in owned homes (-8.2% vs -5.6%), while issued units slumped sharply (-36.3% vs 53.7%) and two-by-four homes also turned negative (-3.8% vs 2.1%).

Japan’s housing starts dropped 7.3% year-on-year in September 2025, below market consensus of a 7.9% decline and slower than a 9.8% fall in the previous month. This marked the sixth consecutive monthly decrease but the mildest in the sequence. New dwelling starts fell at a slower rate for owned homes (-5.6% vs -10.6% in August) and prefabricated housing (-0.4% vs -13.3%). Meanwhile, new construction starts remained weak for rented (-8.2% vs -8.1%) and built-for-sale (-8.3% vs -8.2%). At the same time, housing starts rebounded for issued units (53.7% vs -67.5%), and two-by-four homes (2.1% vs -6.3%).

Japan’s housing starts fell 9.8% year-on-year in August 2025, well below market forecasts of a 4.8% decline and following a 9.7% drop in the previous month. This marked the fifth consecutive monthly decrease, with contractions seen across all categories: owned homes (-10.6% vs -11.1% in July), rented (-8.1% vs -13.1%), issued units (-67.5% vs flat), built-for-sale (-8.2% vs -1.7%), prefabricated housing (-13.3% vs -7.0%), and two-by-four homes (-6.3% vs -2.6%).

Japan’s housing starts shrank 9.7% year-on-year in July 2025, compared with market expectations of a 9.6% decline and after a 15.6% drop in the previous month. This was the fourth consecutive monthly decline but the mildest in the sequence as contractions slowed across most categories: owned (-11.1% vs -16.4% in June), rented (-13.1% vs -14.0%), built-for-sale (-1.7% vs -17.9%), two-by-four homes (-2.6% vs -5.7%), and prefabricated housing starts (-7.0% vs -9.6%). Meanwhile, dwellings in issued units stagnated after increasing 10.2% in June.

Japan’s housing starts fell 15.6% year-on-year in June 2025, slightly better than market expectations of a 15.8% drop and easing from May’s sharp 34.4% plunge—the steepest since September 2009. This marked the third consecutive monthly decline but the mildest in the sequence, as contractions slowed across key categories: owned (-16.4% vs -30.9%), rented (-14.0% vs -30.5%), built-for-sale (-17.9% vs -43.8%), and two-by-four homes (-5.7% vs -26.4%). On the other hand, prefabricated housing starts declined slightly more (-9.6% vs -9.3%), while growth in issued units moderated sharply to 10.2% from 76.7% in May.

Japan’s housing starts plunged 34.4% year-over-year in May 2025, sharply missing market expectations of a 14.8% drop and worsening from a 26.6% decline in the previous month. It marked the third monthly decrease this year and the steepest fall since September 2009, as new dwellings contracted across most categories: owned (-30.9% vs -23.7% in April), rented (-30.5% vs -27.9%), built-for-sale (-43.8% vs -29.7%), prefabricated (-9.3% vs -20.5%), and two-by-four homes (-26.4% vs -46.6%). In contrast, construction starts for issued units accelerated (76.7% vs 27.3%).

Japan's housing starts contracted 26.6% year-over-year in April 2025, underperforming market consensus of an 18.3% drop while swinging from a 39.1% jump in the previous month. It was the second time of decline so far this year, marking the steepest pace since October 2009, as new dwellings shrank for most components: owned (-23.7% vs 37.4% in March), rented (-27.9% vs 50.6%), built-for-sale (-29.7% vs 22.8%), prefabricated (-20.5% vs 9.9%), and two-by-four (-46.6% vs -45.9%). At the same time, construction starts for issued moderated sharply (27.3% vs 99.6%).

Japan's housing starts rose by 39.1% year-over-year in March 2025, sharply picking up from a 2.4% rise in the previous month and easily exceeding market forecasts of a 1.0% increase. It marked the strongest pace of expansion since September 2008, amid broad-based rises in new dwelling for all components: owned (37.4% vs -0.2% in February), rented (50.6% vs 3.2%), issued (99.6% vs -40.4%), built-for-sale (22.8% vs 5.1%), prefabricated (9.9% vs -0.9%), and two-by-four (45.9% vs 10.1%)

Japan's housing starts rose by 2.4% year-over-year in February 2025, rebounding from a 4.6% drop in the previous month and defying market estimates of a 1.4% fall. It marked the first expansion since April 2024, with new dwellings recovering for two-by-four (10.1% vs -6% in January), built-for-sale (5.1% vs -6%), and rented (3.2% vs -1.2%). On the other hand, housing starts declined for owned (-0.2% vs -8.6%), issued (-40.4% vs -0.3%), prefabricated (-0.9% vs 1.2%).