Japan's housing starts increased at a slower pace in February, marking the fourth successive slowdown in growth, data released by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism showed Friday.

Total housing starts increased 3 percent on an annual basis in February, slower than the 5 percent gain seen in January. The rate of growth weakened for the fourth successive month. Economists had forecast a 1.8 percent contraction in February.

The number of housing starts, on an annualized basis, increased to 944,000 in February from 863,000 in the prior month. The expected level was 897,000.

At the same time, construction orders received by big 50 contractors in Japan climbed 16.3 percent year-on-year in February, reversing the 3.7 percent decrease seen in January, data showed.