Construction output rose 8.4 percent in 2018, with residential construction leading the way, according to the Czech Statistics office. “The year 2018 was a successful one for construction,” wrote the CSU. “The estimated value of construction permits issued may have risen only mildly, but it’s a good result after two years of double-digit growth.” The value of orders concluded by construction companies with more than 50 workers rose 16.4 percent to CZK 235.9bn. However, the number of construction permits fell 3.6 percent to 81,174. Industrial output rose 3 percent last year, marking the fifth consecutive year it’s managed to do so. However, the pace of growth was slower than in 2017 as a result of falling demand in western Europe.
