The latest data compiled by the Central Statistical Bureau (CSB) show that, compared to 2016, in 2017 construction output¹ increased by 19.5 % (according to calendar adjusted data at constant prices). Construction output at current prices amounted to 1 736 million euros.

Construction output rise was influenced by the output increase of 30.6 % in construction of civil engineering works. Output growth was recorded almost in all types of civil engineering works: construction of highways, streets and roads, airfield runways, and railways (of 28.2 %), construction of harbours, waterways, dams and other waterworks (of 51.4 %). Significant output increase was observed also in construction of long-distance pipelines, communication and electricity lines (of 49.5 %), construction of local pipelines and cables (41.0 %) and construction of other civil engineering works (81.7 %).

Construction of buildings went up by 11.8 %, which was because of the output rise in construction of non-residential buildings (of 20.2 %). Construction of residential buildings, in turn, fell by 11.0 %.

In comparison with the corresponding period of 2016, in the 4^th quarter of 2017 construction output grew by 21.0 % (according to calendar adjusted data at constant prices). Construction output at current prices amounted to 548.8 million euros.

During the 4^th quarter of 2017, increase in the construction output was recorded in construction of civil engineering works (of 29.3 %) and construction of buildings (14.9 %), of which of 25.7 % in construction of non-residential buildings. Construction of residential buildings fell by 13.4 %.

Within the construction of civil engineering works sector, rise was observed in construction of highways, streets and roads, airfield runways, and railways (of 33.5 %), construction of long-distance pipelines, communication and electricity lines (70.9 %) and construction of local pipelines and cables (31.1 %).

Compared to the quarter before, in the 4^th quarter of 2017 construction output increased by 3.5 % (according to seasonally adjusted data at constant prices), of which by 0.7 % in construction of civil engineering works, of 7.1 % in construction of residential buildings and of 3.6 % in construction of non-residential buildings.

Construction output and its changes

	Total (at current prices, mill EUR)		2017, compared to 2016 (calendar adjusted data at constant prices), %	Q4 2017, compared to
	2017	Q4 2017		Q3 2017 (seasonally adjusted data at constant prices)	Q4 2016 (calendar adjusted at constant prices)
Total	1736.0	548.8	19.5	3.5	21.0
residential buildings, total	216.1	63.5	-11.0	7.1	-13.4
non-residential buildings, total	754.4	241.9	20.2	3.6	25.7
hotels and similar buildings	41.3	10.0	-32.8	8.3	-30.2
office buildings	128.0	49.2	28.7	-3.0	51.7
wholesale and retail trade buildings	62.2	22.7	77.7	3.0	115.4
production buildings and warehouses	139.9	37.8	33.3	24.1	18.2
school, university and research buildings	91.8	26.0	43.4	-36.1	39.4
hospital or institutional care buildings	24.4	6.9	-37.1	15.0	-45.9
civil engineering works, total	765.5	243.4	30.6	0.7	29.3
highways, streets, roads, airfield runways, railways	342.0	103.2	28.2	15.8	33.5
bridges and tunnels	19.0	5.0	-14.3	1.8	-14.4
harbours and dams	61.5	18.8	51.4	-16.9	6.6
long-distance pipelines, communication and electricity lines	141.4	50.4	49.5	38.6	70.9
local pipelines and cables	148.8	49.8	41.0	-7.9	31.1

In 2017, 2 540 building permits² were granted for the construction, capital repairs, reconstruction and restoration of single dwelling buildings with the total floor space of 531.1 thousand m², of which 1 948 permits with the intended floor space of 395.8 thousand m² were issued for construction of new buildings. In its turn, 202 building permits were granted for construction of industrial buildings and warehouses with the total intended floor space of 336 thousand m². Out of the number, 113 building permits were issued for new construction with the intended floor space of 134.7 thousand m².

During the 4^th quarter of 2017, 536 building permits were granted for the construction, capital repairs, reconstruction and restoration of single dwelling buildings with total floor space 123.4 thousand m². Out of the number, 421 building permits with the intended floor space of 94.3 thousand m² were issued for new construction. In its turn, 54 building permits were granted for construction of industrial buildings and warehouses with the total intended floor space of 74.1 thousand m², of which 31 permits were issued for construction of new buildings with the intended floor space of 30.2 thousand m².

¹Own account construction works, including that performed abroad.

² Since the 4^th quarter of 2014, the term granted permits in construction statistics characterises the number of records entered in the construction permit confirming that conditions for commencement of construction work have been met.

Media requests:
Communication Section
E-mail: media@csb.gov.lv
Phone: +371 67366924, +371 27880666

More information on data:
Industrial and Construction Statistics Section
Sandra Vītola
E-mail: Sandra.Vitola@csb.gov.lv
Phone: +371 67366739

Construction and real estate

KEY INDICATORS

Construction volume index GBU01

Immovable property purchase contractsGBU02

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