Summary
Based on data from the publication "Estatísticas da Construção e Habitação - 2005" (Construction and Housing Statistics - 2005), to be released by Statistics Portugal in a few days, it can be concluded that in 2005 the total number of building permits declined by 5.0% from the previous year. As regards completed buildings, the decline was even more marked, standing at -7.9%. When analysing new residential buildings, the declines are similar, albeit less significant (-3.4% and -6.3% respectively).