In the European construction sector, seasonally adjusted production rose by 2 percent in the euro area (EA17) and by 0.9 percent in the EU272 in April 2013, compared with the previous month, according to first estimates released by Eurostat. In March 2013, production declined by 1.8 percent in the euro area and by 1.3 percent in the EU27.
Monthly Comparison
Compared with April 2012, production decreased by 6.6 percent in the euro area and by 5.9 percent in the EU27 in April 2013. Among the Member States for which data are available for April 2013, production in construction rose in eight and fell in seven. The highest increases were registered in Germany (up 6.7 percent), Portugal (up 5.9 percent) and Italy (up 5.5 percent), and the largest decreases in Poland (down 5.2 percent), Romania (down 3.7 percent) and Spain (down 3.1 percent).
Building construction increased by 1.1 percent in the euro area and by 0.7 percent in the EU27, after down 1.2 percent and down 0.9 percent respectively in March 2013. Civil engineering rose by 3.9 percent in the euro area and by 0.8 percent in the EU27, after down 3.9 percent and down 2.2 percent respectively in the previous month.
Annual Comparison
Among the Member States for which data are available for April 2013, production in construction fell in twelve and rose in three. The largest decreases were registered in Poland (down 25.1 percent), Portugal (down 24.4 percent), Slovenia (down 19.3 percent) and Spain (down 15.3 percent), and the increases in Hungary (up 9.8 percent), Bulgaria (up 3.9 percent) and Sweden (up 2.5 percent).
Building construction decreased by 6.1 percent in the euro area and by 5.2 percent in the EU27, after down 6.6 percent in both zones in March 2013. Civil engineering fell by 8.1 percent in the euro area and by 8.3 percent in the EU27, after down 10.7 percent and down 7.9 percent respectively in the previous month.
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