This report provides information on how many new buildings are to be constructed in Japan . It includes the region, the type of building (commercial or government), and whether it is a renovation or a new building. This report can be used as a supply side indicator for the housing and construction market. A declining amount of Building Construction Starts suggests a cooling in the construction market, whereas an increase from month to month suggests an expanding construction market. However, a high number of construction starts in a market with low demand for new buildings and housing will result in excess demand and a drop in housing prices.

The housing market has a multiplier effect on the rest of the economy and the construction starts are one of the earliest signals for real growth in the housing market. Therefore, the Japanese Cabinet Office uses Construction starts to compile their overall economic leading indicator index.

The headline value is the percentage change in construction starts compared to that of the previous month.

Relevance : Rarely affects markets
Release schedule : 5:00 (GMT); monthly, on the last day of the following month.
Revisions schedule : Vary according to seasonal changes.
Source of report : Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport ( Japan )