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) decreased by 0.5 percent as compared to February and was up 5.3 percent compared to the same month of 2013. In February, production had increased by 0.5 percent compared to the previous month.
In the euro area, the seasonally-adjusted production of the construction sector in March of the current year fell 0.6 percent month on month, while increasing by 5.2 percent compared to March 2013. In February, production had increased by 0.4 percent in the euro area compared to January, according to the newly revised data.
Building construction in the EU-28 in March decreased by 0.6 percent month on month and increased by 5.4 percent year on year, while civil engineering output in the region decreased by 0.3 percent from February and was up 4.3 percent year on year.
As compared to February, construction output in March increased in Romania by 10.3 percent, in Slovenia by 8.9 percent and in Italy by 1.9 percent, while a decrease of 3.0 percent was registered in Portugal, a decline of 2.6 percent was recorded in the Netherlands and a decrease of 2.2 percent was seen in Germany.
As compared to March 2013, construction output in March of the current year increased in Slovenia by 44.9 percent, in Hungary by 34.1 percent, in Spain by 19.1 percent and in Poland by 18.4 percent, while a decrease of 13.8 percent was registered in Portugal, a decline of 2.8 percent was recorded in Sweden and a decline of 1.4 percent was witnessed in Italy.