Japan's housing starts growth slowed more than expected in July, data from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism showed Monday.
Annual growth in housing starts eased notably to 7.4 percent in July from a double-digit expansion of 16.3 percent seen in June. Economists had forecast it to grow 11 percent.
At the same time, the number of annualized housing starts fell to 914,000 from 1.03 million a month ago. It was expected to fall to 940,000.
Construction orders received by 50 big contractors slid 4 percent annually, reversing June's 15.4 percent increase.
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