In the construction sector, seasonally adjusted production fell by 0.8% in the euro area (EA17) and by 0.4% in the EU27 in February 2013, compared with the previous month, according to first estimates released by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. In January 2013, production declined by 2.1% in the euro area and by 1.7% in the EU27.

Compared with February 2012, production in February 2013 increased by 0.8% in the euro area, but dropped by 1.1% in the EU27.

Monthly comparison

Among the Member States for which data are available for February 2013, production in construction fell in three, remained stable in Spain and rose in ten. The decreases were registered in Poland (-3.0%), Germany (-2.7%) and Portugal (-0.8%), and the highest increases in Romania (+5.0%), Slovakia (+4.1%) and Sweden (+3.4%).

Building construction increased by 0.4% in the euro area and by 0.6% in the EU27, after -1.5% in both zones in January 2013. Civil engineering fell by 1.6% in the euro area and by 1.3% in the EU27, after -4.4% and -2.7% respectively in the previous month.

Annual comparison

Among the Member States for which data are available for February 2013, production in construction rose in six and fell in eight. The highest increases were registered in France (+8.7%), Bulgaria (+7.8%), Hungary (+7.1%) and Germany (+6.2%), and the largest decreases in Portugal (-20.9%), Poland (-13.1%), Slovenia (-11.3%) and
the Netherlands (-7.8%).

Building construction increased by 0.9% in the euro area, but dropped by 0.8% in the EU27, after -8.8% and -8.6% respectively in January 2013. Civil engineering rose by 0.3% in the euro area and fell by 1.4% in the EU27, after -10.4% and -9.6% respectively in the previous month.