Production in construction down by 0.7% in euro area

In May 2017 compared with April 2017, seasonally-adjusted production in the construction sector decreased by 0.7 per cent in the euro area (EA19) and by 1.1 per cent in the EU28, according to the first estimates from Eurostat, the statistical office of the  European Union. In April 2017 production in construction grew by 0.3 per cent in the euro area and by 0.2 per cent in the EU28.

In May 2017 compared with May 2016, production in construction increased by 2.6 per cent in the euro area and by 2.5 per cent in the EU28.

Monthly comparison by construction sector and member state
The decrease of 0.7 per cent in production in construction in the euro area in May 2017, compared with April 2017, is due to civil engineering falling by 0.9 per cent and building construction by 0.6 per cent.

In the EU28 the decrease of 1.1 per cent is due to both building construction and civil engineering falling by 1.1 per cent.

Among member states for which data are available, the largest decreases in production in construction were recorded in Slovenia (-10.6 per cent), Sweden (-7.1 per cent) and Slovakia (-4.9 per cent). The highest increases were in Hungary (+7.6 per cent), Bulgaria (+3.6 per cent) and Italy (+2.7 per cent).

Annual comparison by construction sector and member state
The increase of 2.6 per cent in production in construction in the euro area in May 2017, compared with May 2016, is due to civil engineering rising by 2.8 per cent and building construction by 2.5 per cent.

In the EU28, the increase of 2.5 per cent is due to building construction rising by 2.9 per cent and civil engineering by 1.6 per cent.

Among the member states for which data are available, the highest increase in production in construction were recorded in Hungary (+35.3 per cent) and Bulgaria (+11.9 per cent). Decreases were observed in Romania (-16.7 per cent), Spain (-5.6 per cent) and Slovakia (-2.1 per cent).