Japan July housing starts down 32.1 pct yr/yr-govt

Published: 30 Aug 2009 21:05:45 PST

TOKYO, Aug 31 - Housing starts in Japan fell 32.1 percent in July from a year earlier, government data showed on Monday, a bigger drop than a median market forecast for a 30.9 percent slide.

It was the eighth straight month of declines in housing starts as consumers grew cautious about spending due to deteriorating job and income conditions.

Orders received by 50 major construction companies in July fell 42.8 percent from a year earlier to 660.9 billion yen ($7.1 billion) marking the ninth straight month of falls.

To view the full tables, go to the official website of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport: http://www.mlit.go.jp/toukeijouhou/chojou/stat-e.htm