In December 2019 compared with November 2019, seasonally adjusted production in the construction sector decreased 3.1% in the euro area (EA19) and 2.8% in the EU27, according to first estimates from Eurostat.
In November 2019, production in construction increased 0.7% in the euro area and 0.8% in the EU27. In December 2019 compared with December 2018, production in construction fell 3.7% in the euro area and 2.6% in the EU27.
The average production in construction for the year 2019, compared with 2018, increased 1.8% in the euro area and 2.4% in the EU27.
Monthly comparison construction sector and Member State
In the euro area in December 2019, compared with November 2019, building construction decreased 3.6% and civil engineering 1.4%. In the EU27, building construction decreased 3.0% and civil engineering 1.1%.
Among Member States for which data are available, the largest decreases in production in construction were recorded in Germany (-8.7%), Poland (-3.4%) and Hungary (-3.0%). Increases were observed in Slovakia (+3.4%), Czechia (+1.6%) and Sweden (+0.3%).
Annual comparison construction sector and Member State
In the euro area in December 2019, compared with December 2018, building construction decreased 4.6% while civil engineering increased 0.9%. In the EU27 building construction decreased 2.8% while civil engineering increased 0.4%.
Among Member States for which data are available, the largest decreases in production in construction were observed in Belgium (-6.5%), Spain (-6.2%) and Poland (-5.5%). The highest increases were recorded in Romania (+23.1%), Czechia (+6.2%), Slovenia and Sweden (both +2.9%).
The euro area (EA19) includes Belgium, Germany, Estonia, Ireland, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Austria, Portugal, Slovenia, Slovakia and Finland.
The European Union (EU27) includes Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechia, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Ireland, Greece, Spain, France, Croatia, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, the Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Finland and Sweden. ■