According to first estimates released by Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Communities, in May this year the seasonally-adjusted production of the construction sector in the European Union member states (EU-27) decreased 0.2 percent as compared to April and was down by 5.1 percent compared to the same month of the previous year. In April, production had increased by 1.1 percent compared to the previous month.
In the euro area, the seasonally-adjusted production of the construction sector in May this year fell 0.3 percent month on month, while decreasing by 5.1 percent compared to May 2012. In April, production had increased by 1.0 percent compared to March, according to the newly revised data.
Building construction in the EU-27 in May decreased by 0.5 percent month on month and was down 4.7 percent compared to May 2012, while civil engineering increased by 0.5 percent from April and was down 6.8 percent as compared to May last year.
As compared to April, construction output in May increased in Spain by 4.4 percent, in Romania by 3.1 percent, in Sweden by 1.7 percent and in the Netherlands by 1.1 percent, while a decrease of 4.2 percent was registered in Bulgaria, a decline of 2.8 percent was recorded both in Poland and Slovenia and a decrease of 2.6 percent was recorded in Germany.