According to first estimates released by Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Communities, in April this year the seasonally-adjusted production of the construction sector in the European Union member states (EU-27) increased 0.9 percent as compared to March and was down by 5.9 percent compared to the same month of the previous year. In March, production had declined 1.3 percent compared to the previous month.
In the euro area, the seasonally-adjusted production of the construction sector in the EU-27 in April rose two percent month on month, while decreasing by 6.6 percent compared to April 2012. In March, production had decreased by 1.8 percent compared to February, according to the newly revised data.
Building construction in the EU-27 in April increased by 0.7 percent month on month and was down 5.2 percent compared to April 2012, while civil engineering rose by 0.8 percent over March and was down 8.3 percent as compared to April last year.
As compared to March, construction output in April increased in Germany by 6.7 percent, in Portugal by 5.9 percent and in Italy by 5.5 percent, while a decrease of 5.2 percent was registered in Poland, a decline of 3.7 percent was recorded in Romania, and a decline of 3.1 percent was registered in Spain.