In January 2014 compared with December 2013, seasonally adjusted production in the construction sector grew by 1.5% in the euro area (EA18) and by 1.3% in the EU28, according to first estimates from Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. In December 2013, production in construction rose by 1.3% and 1.2% respectively. In January 2014 compared with January 2013, production in construction increased by 8.8% in the euro area and by 7.3% in the EU28.

Monthly comparison by construction sector and by Member State

The increase of 1.5% in production in construction in the euro area in January 2014, compared with December 2013, is due to building construction rising by 1.7%, while civil engineering fell by 1.2%. In the EU28, the increase of 1.3% is due to building construction increasing by 1.6%, while civil engineering dropped by 1.8%. The highest increases in production in construction were observed in Slovenia (+22.4%), Spain (+5.8%) and Germany (+4.4%), and the largest decreases in Romania (-4.3%), Slovakia (-3.9%) and France (-2.2%).

Annual comparison by construction sector and by Member State

The increase of 8.8% in production in construction in the euro area in January 2014, compared with January 2013, is due to building construction rising by 9.1% and civil engineering by 7.6%.

In the EU28, the increase of 7.3% is due to building construction rising by 8.1% and civil engineering by 3.8%. The highest increases in production in construction were registered in Slovenia (+42.8%), Spain (+17.6%), Hungary (+15.9%) and Germany (+14.1%), and the largest decreases in Portugal (-14.0%), Romania (-9.2%) and Italy (-7.9%).