Publication postponed because of a calculation issue
Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism announced on October 29, 2026, that the property price index release scheduled for October 30 would be postponed. The affected release covered July 2026 and the second quarter of the year. The ministry identified a problem in the software used to calculate the index and said additional investigation and verification were necessary. Publications covering January through June 2026, the fourth quarter of 2025 and the first quarter of 2026 had also been delayed for the same reason.
Index draws on approximately 300,000 annual transactions
Japan's property price index uses information from approximately 300,000 property transactions annually to measure price trends nationally and across geographic markets. Separate residential and commercial property indices help analysts assess broader market movements. The ministry also publishes transaction counts and floor-area statistics based on ownership transfer registration records. A delay in the price index does not indicate that property prices have fallen; it reflects a statistical calculation and verification problem.
Investors face a temporary gap in official price data
Delayed publication makes it more difficult to compare the latest market conditions with established official price series. Investors and analysts must distinguish the reference periods of older index data from those of recent individual transactions. The ministry says it will announce a new publication schedule once determined. Until updated figures become available, market participants need to use other verified official statistics and transaction evidence while clearly identifying differences in timing and coverage.