In the construction sector, seasonally adjusted production fell by 1.7% in the euro area (EA17) and by 1.1% in the EU27 in March 2013, compared with the previous month, according to first estimates released by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. In February 2013, production declined by 0.3% in the euro area and remained stable in the EU27.

Compared with March 2012, production decreased by 7.9% in the euro area and by 7.2% in the EU27 in March 2013.

Monthly comparison

Among the Member States for which data are available for March 2013, production in construction fell in ten and rose in four. The largest decreases were registered in Portugal (-10.7%), the Czech Republic (-7.6%) and Slovakia (-5.0%), and the highest increases in Romania (+2.8%) and Spain (+2.4%).

Building construction decreased by 1.4% in the euro area and by 0.9% in the EU27, after -0.3% and +0.2% respectively in February 2013. Civil engineering fell by 2.4% in the euro area and by 1.2% in the EU27, after
+0.2% and -0.1% respectively in the previous month.

Annual comparison

Among the Member States for which data are available for March 2013, production in construction fell in ten and rose in four. The largest decreases were registered in Slovenia (-31.8%), the Czech Republic (-19.0%), Poland (-16.9%) and Portugal (-16.7%), and the highest increases in Spain (+16.6%) and Hungary (+9.9%).

Building construction decreased by 7.1% in the euro area and by 6.8% in the EU27, after +1.3% and -0.8% respectively in February 2013. Civil engineering fell by 11.3% in the euro area and by 8.0% in the EU27, after +2.8% and +0.3% respectively in the previous month.