In December, local authorities issued 2,342 housing permits, 14.2% fewer than in the same month of 2011.
Compared with November, the number of building permits was 10.4% lower.
Residential constructions in rural areas made up for 64.8% of the new permits issued in December.
New permits for non-residential buildings, including administrative structures, stood at 480 units in December, down from 570 units in November.