Berlin (dpa) - Federal Building Minister Klara Geywitz is calling for a reduction in construction costs in the face of an economic downturn in the construction industry.

"Because of the high interest rates, there are hardly any new orders and there is a real state of shock in the industry," said the SPD politician of the Neue Berliner Redaktionsgesellschaft as well as the "Stuttgarter Zeitung" and the "Stuttgarter Nachrichten". "I hope that demand will pick up again in 2025, but before that we need a boost to growth."

For example, adjustments are necessary to building standards, "because in Germany we always tend to look for the gold-rimmed solution. But it can also go below that," said the minister. Excessive purchase costs are also a problem.

The responsibility also lies with the states. "The fact that many federal states increased the real estate transfer tax so much in the boom years now makes it all the more difficult for the industry," said Geywitz.