According to first estimates released by Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Communities, in March this year the seasonally-adjusted production of the construction sector in the European Union member states (EU-28) increased by 1.5 percent compared to February and decreased by 1.3 compared to the same month of 2014. In February, production had fallen by 0.8 percent compared to the previous month.
In the euro area, the seasonally-adjusted production of the construction sector in March increased by 0.8 percent month on month, while falling 2.7 percent compared to March 2014. In February, production had decreased by 1.6 percent compared to January, according to the newly revised data.
Building construction in the EU-28 in March increased by 1.1 percent month on month and fell by 2.7 percent year on year, while civil engineering output in the region increased by 3.1 percent from February and was up by 4.7 percent year on year. In the euro area, building construction increased by 0.3 percent month on month and fell by four percent year on year, while civil engineering output in the region increased by 3.2 percent month on month and by 2.5 percent year on year.
As compared to February, construction output in March decreased in Spain by 1.4 percent, and in Bulgaria by 0.7 percent, while an increase of 6.7 percent was registered in Hungary, an increase of 4.4 percent was seen in Romania, and a rise of 3.8 percent was registered in the UK.
As compared to March last year, construction output in March this year decreased in Spain by eight percent, in France by 5.3 percent and in Slovenia by four percent, while an increase of 13.3 percent was registered in Romania, a gain of 12.6 percent was registered in Hungary and a rise of 11.5 percent was seen in the Netherlands.