Eurostat has released seasonally adjusted production in construction figures for the first month of 2014. In January, the production in construction sector was an estimated 1.5% higher than in December 2013 in the euro area and 1.3% higher m/m in the EU28. Compared to December 2013, building construction improved in both the euro area (+1.7%) and the EU28 (+1.6%). However, civil engineering fell by 1.2% in the euro area and by 1.8% in the EU28. Production in construction increased by 22.4% m/m in Slovenia, 5.8% m/m in Spain and by 4/4% m/m in Germany. At the other end of the spectrum, Romania, Slovakia and France experienced m/m declines of 4.3%, 3.9% and 2.2%, respectively.

On a year-on-year basis, production in construction was up 8.8% in the euro area and 7.3% in the EU28. The rise was aided by growth in building construction and civil engineering, which increased by 9.1% y/y and 7.6% y/y, respectively, in the euro area, and by 8.1% y/y and 3.8% y/y, respectively, in the EU28. Slovenia, Hungary, Spain and Germany registered the biggest increases in production in construction, while Portugal, Romania and Italy experienced the greatest decline.

Adapted from press release by