Construction output in Latvia was up 35.7 percent y-o-y in the first quarter of 2018 and by 15 percent on the fourth quarter of 2017, according to data from the Central Statistical Bureau (CSB). This increase included construction of buildings (up 44.2 percent), civil engineering (up 43.6 percent) and specialized construction activities (up 16.3 percent). The biggest increases were seen in certain civil engineering areas, such as construction of roads and railways (up 55.5 percent) and construction of utility projects (up 60.5 percent). There were 515 building permits granted for residential buildings and 234 for non-residential purposes granted in Q1. This includes 46 permits for industrial and warehouse buildings totalling more than 55,000 sqm.
