FX.co ★ Japan Housing Starts Turn Negative in September, Marking Sharp Reversal From August Growth

Japan’s housing starts contracted in September 2026, reversing the strong growth seen a month earlier, according to the latest data released on 30 October 2026.

On a year-over-year basis, housing starts fell by 2.7% in September, compared with a 6.1% increase in August 2026 versus August a year earlier. The shift from solid positive growth to a negative reading suggests a notable cooling in construction activity, at least temporarily, as the sector moves into the autumn period.

The data are measured as a year-over-year comparison, with the current figure reflecting the change in September 2026 versus September a year earlier, while the previous figure shows the change for August 2026 relative to August of the prior year.