OREANDA-NEWS. In December 2015 compared with November 2015, seasonally adjusted production in the construction sector fell by 0.6% in the euro area (EA19) and by 0.1% in the EU28, according to first estimates from Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. In November 2015, production in construction grew by 0.9% in the euro area and by 0.7% in the EU28.

In December 2015 compared with December 2014, production in construction fell by 0.4% in the euro area and grew by 1.4% in the EU28.

Average production in construction for the year 2015, compared with 2014, decreased by 1.0% in the euro area and increased by 0.8% in the EU28. 

Monthly comparison by construction sector and by Member State

The decrease of 0.6% in production in construction in the euro area in December 2015, compared with November 2015, is due to civil engineering falling by 0.7% and building construction by 0.4%.

In the EU28, the decrease of 0.1% is due to building construction falling by 0.5%, while civil engineering rose by 2.6%.

Among Member States for which data are available, the largest decreases in production in construction were recorded in Slovenia (-12.5%), France (-1.6%) and the Netherlands (-0.9%), and the highest increases in Romania (+5.8%), Slovakia (+4.3%) and Sweden (+2.6%).

Annual comparison by construction sector and by Member State

The decrease of 0.4% in production in construction in the euro area in December 2015, compared with December 2014, is due to civil engineering falling by 6.1%, while building construction rose by 0.9%.

In the EU28, the increase of 1.4% is due to civil engineering rising by 2.8% and building construction by 1.2%.

Among Member States for which data are available, the largest decreases in production in construction were recorded in Slovenia (-9.3%), Portugal (-4.7%), France (-3.6%) and the Netherlands (-3.1%), and the highest increases in Slovakia (+24.9%), Sweden (+15.2%) and Romania (+13.9%).