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-28) decreased by 1.6 percent as compared to April, but was up 3.2 percent compared to the same month of 2013. In April, production had increased by 0.3 percent compared to the previous month.
In the euro area, the seasonally-adjusted production of the construction sector in May of the current year decreased by 0.5 percent month on month, while increasing by 3.5 percent compared to May 2013. In April, production had decreased by 0.4 percent in the euro area compared to March, according to the newly revised data.
Building construction in the EU-28 in May decreased by 1.2 percent month on month and increased by five percent year on year, while civil engineering output in the region decreased by 2.4 percent from April and was down 2.5 percent year on year.
As compared to April, construction output in May increased in Hungary by 2.3 percent, in Bulgaria by 1.7 percent, in Slovakia by 1.6 percent and in Spain by one percent, while a decrease of 4.9 percent was registered in Germany, a decline of 3.9 percent was recorded in Poland, a decrease of 3.7 percent was seen in Slovenia and a decline of 3.6 percent was registered in the Czech Republic.
As compared to May 2013, construction output in May of the current year increased in Spain by 42.4 percent, in Slovenia by 41.8 percent, in Hungary by 28.7 percent and in Poland by 6.8 percent, while a decrease of 10.3 percent was registered in Romania, a decline of 10.2 percent was recorded in Portugal, a decline of four percent was seen in the Netherlands and a decline of 2.5 percent was witnessed in Germany.