In February 2016 compared with January 2016, seasonally adjusted production in the construction sector fell by 1.1% in the euro area (EA19) and by 0.4% in the EU28, according to first estimates from Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. In January 2016, production in construction grew by 2.4% in the euro area and by 0.9% in the EU28.
In February 2016 compared with February 2015, production in construction grew by 2.5% in the euro area and by 2.3% in the EU28.
Monthly comparison by construction sector and by Member State
The decrease of 1.1% in production in construction in the euro area in February 2016, compared with January 2016, is due to building construction falling by 1.5%, while civil engineering grew by 0.9%.
In the EU28, the decrease of 0.4% is due to building construction falling by 0.5%, while civil engineering grew by 0.3%.
Among Member States for which data are available, the largest decreases in production in construction were recorded in France (-6.0%), Sweden (-5.1%) and Slovenia (-4.1%), and the highest increases in Romania (+5.1%), the United Kingdom (+3.1%) and Bulgaria (+2.7%).
Annual comparison by construction sector and by Member State
The increase of 2.5% in production in construction in the euro area in February 2016, compared with February 2015, is due to building construction rising by 2.8% and civil engineering by 1.3%.
In the EU28, the increase of 2.3% is due to building construction rising by 2.9%, while civil engineering fell by 1.4%.
Among Member States for which data are available, the highest increases in production in construction were recorded in Slovakia (+18.8%), Spain (+13.0%) and Sweden (+11.3%), and the largest decreases in Slovenia (-30.8%), Hungary (-19.3%) and Poland (-10.1%).
Adapted from news release by Joseph Green. Source: Eurostat