NIS: Permits for residential buildings fell 12.2% in the first eight months, although they rose slightly in August compared with July

In the first eight months of 2026, authorities issued 21,791 building permits for residential buildings, 12.2% fewer than in the same period last year, according to data from the National Institute of Statistics. The trend indicates a slowdown in residential construction activity nationwide.

In August, 2,943 permits were issued for residential buildings, up 1.2% from July. The total authorized usable floor area reached 721,726 square meters, 1.3% above the level recorded in the previous month. Most permits, namely 72.5% of the total, were issued for construction in rural areas.

Increases compared with July were recorded in the North-East, West, Central, South-East, South-West Oltenia and South-Muntenia regions. By contrast, Bucharest-Ilfov reported a decrease of 160 permits, while the North-West region recorded a decline of one permit.

Compared with August 2025, the number of residential permits fell by 16.1%, while the total usable floor area decreased by 7.3%. Permit declines were recorded in seven regions, while the South-East was the only region to report an increase, of 13 permits. In the first eight months, the only regional increase was recorded in Bucharest-Ilfov, with four permits.