Construction: Licensed projects fall by 7.3%, but the number of units rises by 4.1% until August

In Portugal, the construction sector showed mixed results in the first eight months of the year. Licensed housing projects decreased by 7.3%, totaling 12,805, while the number of new homes increased by 4.1%, reaching 29,030. Cement consumption rose by 6.4%, indicating ongoing growth in the sector. New housing loans reached €16.7 billion, a 12.5% increase, with total mortgage debt hitting a record €119.1 billion. Property valuations averaged €2,254 per square meter, up 14.7%, with apartments seeing a 17% increase compared to 12.6% for houses.