Satakunta's business cycles go hand in hand with the rest of Finland's situation. Although in the first half of the current year the hammers were still banging at a steady and even moderately tight pace, from now on uncertainty is starting to show. The building industry is now turning its eyes to the EU: "The EU's corona stimulus package could bring help to municipalities' construction investments. Now we need fast-acting recovery measures that will bring effectiveness far into the future."
Construction is now aligning itself with many other industries disciplined by the corona virus. Regional manager of Varsinais-Finland and Satakunta in the building construction industry Markku Leppälehto calls for EU-level first aid to the situation.
"Finland's program needs projects that simultaneously revitalize effectively, improve competitiveness and combat climate change. Construction projects meet all these criteria. An investment assistance package that can be implemented quickly must be prepared for municipalities, from which even the municipalities of Satakunta can apply for support for their necessary repair and new building investments."
Builders, designers and building contractors in the Satakunta region state that they were moderately satisfied with their work situation during the beginning of the year; the period of the last six months has been given both good and satisfactory grades. However, all parties anticipate that the amount of their work will decrease in the next six months. For builders, the maintenance of renovation construction at its former level still appears as a positive glimmer. The information will be published on November 6.11. from the published regional review of house construction.
Despite the low pressure on income, the second quarter of this year still went fairly well. Compared to the same time a year earlier, housing starts increased by a total of 49 percent. Looking at building types, the highest increase, i.e. 119 percent, occurred in apartment buildings. Terraced houses are a good second with a 71 percent increase, while single-family houses decrease by six percent. However, the big growth numbers are explained by the deep slump that happened a year earlier.
Other house construction starts increased by 37 percent. Public service buildings did the best, for them the increase was as much as 150 percent. Industrial and warehouse building starts, on the other hand, decreased by 47 percent. Commercial and office construction also fell by just under a third. The numbers are swayed by individual large projects in the region.
For more information:
- Regional manager Markku Leppälehto
040 745 3930 / markku.leppalehto@rakennusteollisuus.fi - Chief Economist Jouni Vihmo
050 520 1636 / jouni.vihmo@rakennusteollisuus.fi - Data from the business cycle review: www.rakennusteollisuus.fi/alueelliset-suhdannekatsauset