The National Institute of Statistics (NIS) announced that investments in the economy rose in the first semester, compared to the same period last year, by 20%, to 28.89 billion lei, after an advance of 19.5% in the second quarter compared to April-June 2011.

In the second quarter, investments regarding the equipment (including vehicles), increased by 28%, and new constructions, by17.1%, but decreased by 3.7% to other expenses category.

In a statement of the NIS it is said that "compared to the second quarter of 2011, in the second quarter of 2012, there is an increase of the percentage of equipment (including vehicles) in total investment by 1.7 percentage points and in new constructions by 0.2 percentage points. The share of investments in other expenses decreased by 1.9 percentage points".

Investments that have materialized in new constructions summed 14.925 billion lei in the first semester, representing 51.7% of the total, compared to 51% in the first semester of 2011. Investments in machinery and transport equipment summed 11.715 billion lei, representing 40.5% of the total, compared to 39.8% in the first semester of the year.

Branches which registred a higher volume of investments are in industry and commerce / services (wholesale and retail trade, the repair of motor vehicles).