Japan’s housing sector showed a marked loss of momentum in February 2026, with housing starts falling 4.9% year-over-year, according to data updated on 31 March 2026. The decline deepened from January 2026, when housing starts were down a comparatively mild 0.4% year-over-year.
The figures indicate a clear deterioration in residential construction activity when measured against the same months a year earlier. While January’s data suggested relative stability with only a slight year-over-year contraction, February’s sharper drop points to growing headwinds for Japan’s housing market and construction sector as the new year progresses.