Soon enough there will only be apartments in Malta!

Feb 24 2023

During the last quarter of 2022, a total of 357 building permits for 2,064 new dwellings were approved in Malta and Gozo and Comino.

This represents an increase of 33.2% in the number of approved new dwellings when compared to the same quarter of the previous year.

This increase was driven mainly by the approval of apartments, which made up 68.7% of the total number of approved new dwellings.

The South Eastern district had the highest number of approved new dwellings with 515, while the Western district had the lowest with 210.

Marsaskala had the highest number of approved new dwellings with 203, followed by Ir-Rabat, Għawdex with 188, and San Pawl Il-Baħar with 185. Marsaxlokk and Is-Siġġiewi had 132 and 97 approved new dwellings respectively.

Compared to the same quarter of 2021, the number of new dwellings approved in Malta and Gozo and Comino increased by 35.0% and 26.5% respectively.

This indicates that the demand for new housing continues to rise in these regions, which could be attributed to a growing population and an increasing demand for housing.

The average number of approved new dwellings per building permit was 5.8. This suggests that developers are taking advantage of the strong demand for new housing by building larger residential complexes that can accommodate multiple families.

Could this indicate that Malta could be heading towards having just apartments and running houses into extinction? Read the full report here.

#MaltaDaily

Vascas Jewellers to close doors after 30 years of service

Feb 24 2023

It has been announced that Vascas Jewellers & Home, purveyors of the finest jewellery in the Maltese Islands for well over 30 years, will be closing its doors and moving on to new projects.

The brand became a local staple – a name which immediately pops up in the minds of Maltese and Gozitan alike when the finest jewellery accessories and items are brought up.

However, this is not the end of the journey for the renowned brand. Instead, it is the beginning of a new chapter as the Vassallo Family and Vascas co-founders, Mark Vassallo, along with kids Nicky, Andy and Becky will be starting a new chapter.

What is this new and exciting phase you ask? A fresh new brand and a new luxury flagship store will be opening in Naxxar. For now, it is still quite hush hush, but more information will be revealed in the coming months with regards to the new launch.

So keep your eyes peeled for the new announcements as we bid farewell to this three decade icon that made the islands shine a little bit brighter.

#MaltaDaily

Highest annual inflation rates in January 2023 for food & non-alcoholic beverages

Feb 24 2023

According to the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP), as released by the National Statistics Office for January 2023, the highest annual inflation rates were registered for food, non-alcoholic beverages, clothing and footwear.

In January 2023, the annual rate of inflation as measured by the HICP was 6.8%, down from the 7.3% as registered in December of 2022.

With a 12-month moving average rate for January standing at 6.3%, the largest upward impact on annual inflation was measured in the food and non-alcoholic beverages index at 11.7%.

Meanwhile, clothing and footwear also experienced some high inflation rates in the first month of 2023 at 9.5%.

On the other hand, the lowest annual inflation rates were registered in Communication (1.3%), Alcoholic beverages and tobacco (2.4%).

As per other sectors, the recreational and culture division registered a 6.3% rate, health 4.0%, restaurants and hotels a 5.7% rate and housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels at 9.1%

The HICP measures monthly price changes in the cost of purchasing a representative basket of consumer goods and services and is calculated according to specified EU regulations.

#MaltaDaily

Sevilla keeper Dmitrovic physically assaulted by pitch invader

Feb 24 2023

During Thursday’s Europa League match between Sevilla and PSV Eindhoven, the game turned violent when a pitch invader ran onto the field and punched Sevilla’s goalkeeper, Marko Dmitrović.

The incident occurred towards the end of the match, which saw PSV being eliminated from the tournament 3-2 on aggregate.

Video footage shows the spectator walking up to Dmitrović and throwing a punch at his head. The 6-foot-4-inch Serbian goalkeeper quickly pinned down the pitch invader before security personnel arrived and escorted the assailant off the field.

Despite the attack, Dmitrović remained in the game after the incident.

“He pushed me from behind and then came and got in my face and tried to hit me,” said Dmitrović. “He grazed the side of my nose a little and then honestly, I wanted to hit him back but it’s never pretty.

If he really wants to fight let’s go to an event or a sport like boxing or anything. Here, in this sport, these things aren’t deserved but alas.

“There’s always fans who are drunk and crazy and an idiot who assaults. This shouldn’t happen and I hope they punish him and anyone else who assaults anyone on the pitch in the future.”

Sevilla had won the first leg of the playoff 3-0, which put the Dutch side in a challenging position heading into Thursday night’s match. Luuk de Jong netted a goal in the 77th minute for PSV Eindhoven during the second leg.

Following the incident with Dmitrović, substitute Fabio Silva doubled PSV’s lead five minutes into stoppage time. However, it was too late to change the outcome of the game, and Sevilla advanced to the Round of 16 despite the second-leg loss.

#MaltaDaily