Seasonally adjusted European construction sector production in July rose by 0.3 percent in the euro area (EA17) and by 0.7 percent in the EU28 compared with June, according to first estimates from Eurostat. In June, production in construction rose by 0.9 percent and 0.6 percent, respectively.

Compared to July 2012, July production in construction decreased by 1.2 percent in the euro area and by 1.1 percent in the EU28.

In a monthly comparison among the Member States for which data are available for July 2013, production in construction rose in nine, fell in four and remained stable in the Netherlands. The largest increases were registered in Romania (up 8.6 percent), Portugal (up 5.1 percent), Poland (up 5 percent) and the Czech Republic (up 4.9 percent). Decreases were observed in Sweden (down 4.1 percent), Spain and Hungary (both down 1.6 percent) and Slovenia (down 0.5 percent).

Building construction increased by 1.1 percent in the euro area and by 1.3 percent in the EU28, after increasing 0.4 percent and 0.2 percent, respectively, in June. Civil engineering fell by 0.2 percent in the euro area, but rose by 0.5 percent in the EU28, after increasing 1 percent and 1.2 percent, respectively, in the previous month.

In an annual comparison among the Member States for which data are available for July, production in construction fell in eight and rose in six. The largest decreases were registered in Portugal (down 16.3 percent), Bulgaria (down 6.9 percent), Slovakia (down 6.8 percent) and Poland (down 6.4 percent), and the highest increases in Romania (up 14.2 percent), Spain (up 2.9 percent), Hungary and the United Kingdom (both up 2 percent).

Building construction decreased by 1 percent in both the euro area and the EU28, after declining 2.6 percent and 2.3 percent, respectively, in June. Civil engineering fell by 2 percent in the euro area and by 2.3 percent in the EU28, after falling 3.3 percent and 3.8 percent, respectively, in the previous month.