In December 2013 compared with November 2013, seasonally adjusted production in the construction sector grew by 0.9% in the euro area (EA17) and by 1.0% in the EU28, according to first estimates from Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. In November 2013, production in construction fell by 0.2% and 0.8% respectively.

In December 2013 compared with December 2012, production in construction declined by 0.2% in the euro area, but rose by 0.8% in the EU28.

Average production in construction for the year 2013, compared with 2012, dropped by 2.9% in the euro area and by 2.2% in the EU28.

Monthly comparison

Among the Member States for which data are available for December 2013, production in construction rose in nine and fell in six. The highest increases were observed in the Czech Republic (+6.0%), France (+4.5%) and Slovakia (+2.9%), and the largest decreases in Slovenia (-17.2%), Poland (-4.1%) and Spain (-3.3%).

Building construction grew by 0.6% in the euro area and by 0.7% in the EU28, after -0.7% and -1.0% respectively in November 2013. Civil engineering gained 3.8% in the euro area and 3.5% in the EU28, after +1.1% and -0.7% respectively in the previous month.
Annual comparison

Among the Member States for which data are available for December 2013, production in construction fell in five and rose in ten. The largest decreases were registered in Portugal (-14.1%), Italy (-8.8%) and Spain (-4.7%), and the highest increases in Hungary (+11.5%), Slovakia (+9.2%) and the United Kingdom (+6.8%).

Building construction dropped by 0.9% in the euro area, but increased by 0.1% in the EU28, after -1.3% and -0.8% respectively in November 2013. Civil engineering rose by 1.7% in the euro area and by 2.3% in the EU28, after -2.6% and -3.7% respectively in the previous month.