Number of building licenses issued in January dropping

  The number of licenses for residential buildings issued in January 2024 was 1,829, on the drop by 12% compared to the same month of 2023, when there were 2,079, according to daya issued on Thursday by National Institute of Statistics (INS).   For non residential buildings, 371 building licenses were issued in January 2024, 8.2% fewer than in January 2023, when 404 licenses were issued.   According to INS, the 1,829 licenses for residential buildings issued in January 2024 covered a total useful area of 421,032 sq.m., 24.8% less. 70.1% of licenses for residential buildings are for the rural area.   In the first month of the year there was a drop by 250 of the number of building licenses issued for residential buildings compared to the same month of 2023. The drop was reflected in the following developing areas: Center (-100 licenses), South Muntenia (-86), North-Western (-75), Bucharest- Ilfov (-26) and South-West Oltenia (-7).   There were increases in the following areas: South-Eastern (+22 licenses), Western (+16) and North-Eastern (+6).   371 building licenses were issued in January 2024 for non-residential buildings, 8.2% fewer than in January 2023, for a total area of 153,797 sq.m (-32.5%).   Compared to the same month of 2023, there was a drop of the area for building licenses issued for non residential buildings by 74,088 sq.m in January 2024.   This drop is reflected in the following areas: Center (-35,223 sq.m), North-Western (-33,430 sq.), Bucharest-Ilfov (-29,727), Western (-4,531) and North-Eastern (-2,559). Increases were recorded in the South-East (+27,570 sq.m), South-Muntenia (+3,436) and South-West Oltenia (+376).