- Construction investment fell 7,6% in 2012, to a 40-year low. The decline is worse than that expected by analysts (-6%) and adds up to the -5,3% recorded in 2011. As for 2013, forecasts are for a further decline (-3,8%). The alarm was sounded by the National Association of Building Builders (Ance), which today presented the data from the Economic Observatory.
“The size of the fall in investments – warns ANCE – is similar to that recorded in 2009, ie at the beginning of the crisis”. Therefore, in the opinion of the builders, "we are faced with a 'relapse of the patient' which demonstrates how the policies adopted so far have not had positive effects".
According to the calculations of the Association, around 550 jobs have been lost since the beginning of the crisis in the construction sector and related sectors. “It is a drama that takes place in silence – underlines Ance -, comparable to 72 Ilva Taranto, 450 Alcoa or 277 Termini Imerese”.
There is also a strong acceleration in the use of layoff earnings by construction companies. The number of authorized hours increased by 93% in 2009, by 33% in 2010 and by 4,7% in 2011. In the first ten months of 2012 there was a further growth of 28,3% on the already high levels of the same period of 2011. "If this trend were confirmed for the whole of 2012, the number of hours authorized in the year would be equal to 140 million, or three and a half times the result of 2008 (40 million)".
Another problem faced by Ance is that of delays in payments by the Public Administration, which according to the association are worth 19 billion euros. A constantly growing sum.
Waiting times also increase: on average, companies that carry out public works are paid after eight months and the peaks of delay largely exceed two years. “The internal stability pact, which severely limits the investment capacity of local authorities, continues to be the main cause of delays in payments by the PA”, concludes Ance.
