The Czech construction industry is showing modest signs of improvement despite ongoing challenges. According to the Czech Statistical Office, October saw a 3.8% increase in construction output compared to September, though year-over-year figures still indicate a 3.6% decline.
Radek Matějka, Director of Agriculture, Forestry, Industry, Construction, and Energy Statistics at the Czech Statistical Office, notes that both civil engineering and building construction contributed to the year-over-year decline.
The estimated value of projects receiving building permits in October reached 43.5 billion crowns, marking a 17.6% decrease from the previous year. However, this apparent decline needs context – last year’s October figures included eight major construction projects valued at over one billion crowns each. When these exceptional projects are excluded, the value actually shows a 12% increase, according to Petra Cuřínová from the Construction and Housing Statistics Department.
The housing sector continues to face significant challenges. October saw groundbreaking on 2,571 new housing units, representing a 14.6% decrease year-over-year. Even more concerning is the sharp 48.4% drop in completed housing units, with only 1,846 units finished in October.