In the construction sector, seasonally adjusted production rose by 12.4% in the euro area (EA17) and by 11.8% in the EU27 in March 2012, compared with the previous month. In February, production fell by 10.4% in the euro area and by 5.7% in the EU27. Compared with March 2011, output in March 2012 decreased by 3.8% in the euro area and by 3.9% in the EU27.

Monthly comparison

Among the Member States for which data are available for March 2012, construction output rose in ten and fell in four. The highest increases were registered in Germany (+30.7%), France (+17.8%), the United Kingdom (+14.8%) and Italy (+9.5%), and the largest decreases in Romania (-8.8%), Portugal (-6.8%) and Spain (-1.8%).

Building construction increased by 11.7% in the euro area and by 11.9% in the EU27, after -10.1% and -5.1% respectively in February 2012. Civil engineering rose by 16.4% in the euro area and by 14.3% in the EU27, after -13.0% and -10.5% respectively in the previous month.

Annual comparison

Among the Member States for which data are available for March 2012, construction output fell in nine and rose in five. The largest decreases were registered in Portugal (-16.4%), Slovakia (-11.0%), Spain (-10.9%) and Slovenia (-10.7%), and the highest increases in Sweden (+7.9%), Germany (+6.3%) and Poland (+2.4%).

Building construction fell by 3.4% in the euro area and by 3.1% in the EU27, after -14.6% and -10.2% respectively in February 2012. Civil engineering decreased by 4.9% in the euro area and by 8.0% in the EU27, after -23.1% and -18.6% respectively in the previous month.