In the construction sector, seasonally adjusted production fell by 1.7% in the euro area (EA17) and by 2.7% in the EU27 in December 2012, compared with the previous month, according to first estimates released by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. In November 2012, production decreased by 0.4% and 0.6% respectively.

Compared with December 2011, production in December 2012 dropped by 4.8% in the euro area and by 8.5% in the EU27.

Compared with 2011, the average production index for 2012 decreased by 5.4% in the euro area and by 5.8% in the EU27.

Monthly comparison

Among the Member States for which data are available for December 2012, production in construction fell in six and rose in eight. The largest decreases were registered in Bulgaria (-10.3%), Poland (-10.1%) and Germany (-8.9%), and the highest increases in Slovenia (+7.2%), Hungary (+3.4%) and Sweden (+3.3%).

Building construction decreased by 1.6% in the euro area and by 2.6% in the EU27, after -0.5% in both zones in November 2012. Civil engineering fell by 2.1% in the euro area and by 2.3% in the EU27, after +1.4% and +0.6% respectively in the previous month.

Annual comparison

Among the Member States for which data are available for December 2012, production in construction fell in twelve and rose in two. The largest decreases were registered in Poland (-23.7%), Portugal (-18.2%), Bulgaria (-15.1%) and the United Kingdom (-15.0%), and the increases in Sweden (+5.2%) and Spain (+4.5%).

Building construction declined by 6.2% in the euro area and by 8.3% in the EU27, after -4.8% and -5.7% respectively in November 2012. Civil engineering decreased by 2.9% in the euro area and by 11.2% in the EU27, after -4.6% and -6.1% respectively in the previous month.