As many as 4,162 apartments and 1,240 private homes were put into commission in Moldova in 2016, a decrease of 18.4% on 2015, show data of the National Bureau of Statistics.

Contacted by IPN, president of the Federation of Building and Building Materials Industry Trade Unions “Sindicons” Victor Talmaci considers the main cause for this discrepancy is the decline in the purchasing power of the population, the sudden decline in the amount of work and the oversaturated market.

Victor Talmaci said the salaries are low, while banks’ offers are not attractive for families that need housing. The housing prices are expected to decrease amid the low demand.

A number of 5,400 apartments and 1,500 private homes were put into operation in 2015.