Building tradespeople and the financial crisis

By Batipole Edition Published on Wednesday, November 16, 2011 at 01:00

The financial crisis that hit our country this summer has not spared construction professionals. According to figures reported by the CAPEB (Confederation of Construction Crafts and Small Businesses), the situation for these construction professionals in the third quarter of 2011 deteriorated significantly.

While the second quarter of 2011 had recorded a growth in activity of 2,5 %, heralding a recovery, the summer period saw hesitant growth of only 1,5 %These figures, which reflect the general economic gloom, force the CAPEB to revise downwards its forecasts for 2011. Instead of the 2,9% growth in activity announced, the confederation is counting on a figure of 2,2%.

La building renovation is the sector of activity that is suffering the most, recording only minimal growth of 1% in the third quarter of 2011 compared to 2% in the second quarter. This decrease in activity is partly due to households that are financially reluctant to undertake work to improve their homes. According to the President of CAPEB "While the combination of the Eco-PTZ and the tax credit is rather good news, it is imperative to increase the resource ceiling currently proposed at 40 euros to at least 000 euros."

In terms of trades, building tradespeople are not all equal in the face of the crisis:

- The roofers-plumbers-heating engineers saw their activity increase by 2,5% and the carpenters-locksmiths of 2%.

- Electricians recorded a growth of 1,5% and masons of 1%.

- The professionals of thefitting-decoration-plastering suffered a setback since their activity only increased by 1%.

In view of a significantly reduced order book for housing maintenance and improvement work, CAPEB is already preferring to announce an activity growth of only 2012% for 1.

The Batipôle.com team