The number of building permits issued for residential buildings went up 1.4 percent in the first quarter compared to the same period in 2013, to 6,967, according to data from the National Statistics Institute INS.

Increases were recorded in the Bucharest-Ilfov region (plus 215 permits), in the West region (plus 119), South-East (plus 86) and North-West (plus 41). The largest decrease was recorded in the South-Muntenia region - down 174 permits.

Over 3,200 building permits were issued for residential buildings in March this year, up 46.6 percent against the previous month. Compared to the same month in 2013, the increase was of 5.2 percent.

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com