March 19, 2018

Production in the construction sector decreased by 2.2% in the euro area (EA19) and by 2.1% in the EU28, in January 2018 compared with December 2017 according to Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. In December 2017, production in construction grew by 0.7% in the euro area and by 1.0% in the EU28.

The fall in monthly production in construction for the January period versus December 2017 was due to building construction falling by 3.1% and civil engineering by 0.9%. In the EU28, the decrease of 2.1% was due to building construction falling by 2.8% and civil engineering by 0.3%.

Among member state, the largest decreases in production in construction were recorded in France (-7.6%), Sweden and the United Kingdom (both -3.4%). The highest increases were observed in Slovenia (+14.4%), Poland (+8.8%) and Hungary (+6.4%).

On an annual basis, January 2017 to January 2018, production in construction increased by 3.7% for the euro area due to civil engineering rising by 9.3% and building construction by 2.0%. In the EU28, the increase of 2.5% is due to civil engineering rising by 8.4% and building construction by 0.9%.

The annual figure for individual member state revealed that the highest increases in production in construction were recorded in Slovenia (+76.0%), Hungary (+43.1%), the Czech Republic (+33.6%) and Poland (+31.8). Decreases were observed in Spain (-3.6%) and the United Kingdom (-3.2%).

                                    Source: Eurostat