MADRID: Spanish housing sales rose by 11.1 percent in 2015 compared with a year earlier, according to data published Wednesday by Spain’s Statistical Office (INE).
Housing sales have been increasing for two consecutive years after sharp falls due to the financial crisis. In 2008 and 2009, housing sales fell by 28.8 percent and 25.1 percent respectively and in 2011, 2012 and 2013 they fell by 18.1 percent, 11.5 percent and 1.9 percent respectively.
The INE reported 354,132 house purchasing operations were registered in 2015, with sales of second-hand houses reaching 276,267 and sales of new houses reaching 77,865.
In December, housing sales increased by 6.8 percent on a year-on-year basis while falling by 3.9 percent when compared with November.
