20 May 2011 18:25

Housing construction down 17.9% in April, down 6.7% in Jan-April - Rosstat

MOSCOW. May 20 (Interfax) - A total of 3.1 million square meters of housing were completed in Russia in April 2011, 17.9% less than in April 2010, Rosstat reported.

Housing construction registered an increase only in March, up 13.5% year-on-year. It was down 16.3% in January and 6.4% in February.

A total of 12.4 million square meters of housing were completed in the first four months, 6.7% less than in the same period last year.

A total of 145,600 apartments were added in the four months.

Construction volume totaled 971.6 billion rubles in January-April, 0.5% more year-on-year, including 307.9 billion rubles in April, 1.9% less.

Housing construction declined 2.4% in 2010, when a total of 58.4 million square meters of housing were completed.