There were 11,270 housing starts in the first quarter of 2011, 16% more than in the corresponding quarter of 2010, the Central Bureau of Statistics reports, reaching a level last achieved in the third quarter of 2000. 73,000 apartments were under construction at the end of March, 11% more than a year earlier.
Housing starts in the Central District rose by 22.4% to account for 36.7% of all housing starts in the first quarter, the largest proportion nationwide. Housing starts in the Southern District rose by 38% to account for 18.7% of all housing starts in the first quarter, the second largest proportion. Housing starts in Jewish settlements in Judea and Samaria rose by 633% to account for 2.1% of all housing starts in the first quarter. The number of housing starts fell in the Jerusalem and Haifa districts.
32% of the housing starts in the first quarter were one or two family homes.
There were 8,350 housing completions in the first quarter, 8% more than in the corresponding quarter. 39% of the housing completions were one or two family homes.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on June 1, 2011
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