Home construction up, new building permits down in H1 - KSH

The number of completed homes increased by 34.4 percent to 8,697 in the first half of 2020, compared to the same period last year while the number of new building permits dropped by 32.6 percent to 12,475 during the period, the Central Statistical Office (KSH) said on Thursday. The number of home building permits issued in Budapest dropped by 20.9 percent to 4,867. The number issued in county seats and cities with over 50,000 residents plunged 50.6 percent to 1,964. The number in other cities was down by 33.6 percent at 3,213, and the number in smaller communities dropped by 25.4 percent to 2,431.