Erfurt (dpa/th) - The construction industry in Thuringia is doing good business despite the economic downturn and sharply increased prices. The turnover of the larger companies in the main construction trades totaled 1.5 billion euros from January to August, as reported by the State Statistical Office in Erfurt on Tuesday. That was an increase of 156 million euros or 11.4 percent compared to the same period last year - albeit with one more working day.
The statisticians calculated that commercial construction recorded the highest growth with an increase of 83.1 million euros or 16.9 percent. If you take a look at the order books of the companies, the positive development should continue. Your incoming orders reached a volume of 1.6 billion euros in the eight months. Orders increased by EUR 158.4 million or 11.1 percent compared to the same period of the previous year.
Road construction benefited the most with orders worth EUR 849.9 million. This corresponds to an increase of 16.3 percent. There was a decline - presumably due to the sharp rise in building prices - in residential construction. At EUR 164.8 million, incoming orders for the housing project were EUR 6.0 million or 3.5 percent lower than in the same period of the previous year.
According to figures from the state office, around 14,200 people are employed in Thuringia's main construction trades, around 250 fewer than in the same period.
