There were 9,237 housing starts during the second quarter of 2012, 23% fewer than during the corresponding quarter of 2011, and 8% fewer than during the preceding quarter, the Central Bureau of Statistics reported today.
Housing starts in the first half fell 16%, compared with the corresponding half of last year, to 19,270 starts. A third of the housing starts were for individual houses, and the rest were apartments.
The Central District accounted for the largest number of housing starts during the first half, at one-third of the total, the Northern District accounted for a fifth of the total, the Tel Aviv District 14%, the Southern District 11%, and the Jerusalem and Haifa districts accounted for 10% each.
A breakdown of housing starts by city during the first half puts Tel Aviv in first place with 1,221 starts, followed by Jerusalem with 998 starts, and Yavne with 748. Fourth place Beit Shemesh had 672 housing starts during the first half, 175% more than during the corresponding half. However, there were 50% fewer housing starts in Ashkelon, compared with the corresponding half, 34% fewer in Petah Tikva, and 33% fewer in Rehovot.
83,000 housing units are currently under construction nationwide, the largest number since June 1999.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on August 30, 2012
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