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Building permits decreased in the last quarter, but 2021 annual results are the highest of the last decade
Construction: building permits and completed buildings
Building permits decreased in the last quarter, but 2021 annual results are the highest of the last decade - 4th Quarter 2021
15 March 2022

Summary

In the 4th quarter of 2021, there were 5.6 thousand licensed buildings which corresponded to a 4.7% reduction in comparison with the same period of the previous year (+2.2% in the 3rd quarter of 2021) and a decrease of 6.0% when compared with the same quarter in 2019. Building permits for new constructions decreased by 0.5% (+5.4% in the 3rd quarter of 2021) and registered a nil rate of change when compared with the 4th quarter of 2019. Renovation permits declined by 11.7% (-5.4% in the 3rd quarter of 2021), i.e., an 18.3% decrease vis-à-vis the 4th quarter of 2019. The number of completed buildings increased by 2.0% (+5.5% in the 3rd quarter of 2021) and by 3.8% compared to the 4th quarter of 2019, amounting to 3.9 thousand buildings.

When compared with the previous quarter, the number of licensed buildings decreased by 8.9% (-8.5% in the 3rd quarter 2021) and the number of completed buildings increased by 1.3% (+4.1% in the 3rd quarter of 2021).

When analysing monthly data, the significant reduction in the number of building permits in October stands out, representing, on its own, a decrease of 24.4% vis-à-vis October 2020 and a reduction of 33.0% in comparison with the same month in 2019. 

In the year 2021, 25.1 thousand buildings were licensed, and 15.2 thousand buildings were completed, corresponding to increases of 8.9% and 4.1%, respectively, when compared to 2020 (-4.3% and +3.8%, in the same order, in 2020). In comparison with 2019, the increases were 4.2% concerning building permits and 8.0% regarding completed buildings.


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