The FINANCIAL -- In December 2017 compared with November 2017, seasonally adjusted production in the construction sector increased by 0.1% in the euro area (EA19) and by 0.6% in the EU28, according to first estimates from Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.
In November 2017, production in construction grew by 0.2% in the euro area and by 0.5% in the EU28.
In December 2017 compared with December 2016, production in construction increased by 0.5% in the euro area and by 1.5% in the EU28.
The average production in construction for the year 2017, compared with 2016, increased by 2.4% in the euro area and by 3.5% in the EU28.
Monthly comparison by construction sector and by Member State
The increase of 0.1% in production in construction in the euro area in December 2017, compared with November 2017, is due to building construction rising by 0.5%, while civil engineering fell by 1.1%.
In the EU28, the increase of 0.6% is due to civil engineering rising by 1.5% and building construction by 0.5%.
Among Member States for which data are available, the highest increases in production in construction were recorded in Romania (+4.5%), France (+4.2%) and Hungary (+3.9%), and the largest decreases in Slovakia (-5.5%), Spain (-4.4%) and Bulgaria (-3.0%).
Annual comparison by construction sector and by Member State
The increase of 0.5% in production in construction in the euro area in December 2017, compared with December 2016, is due to building construction rising by 1.4%, while civil engineering fell by 2.6%.
In the EU28, the increase of 1.5% is due to civil engineering rising by 1.8% and building construction by 1.5%.
Among Member States for which data are available, the highest increases in production in construction were recorded in Hungary (+35.0%), Slovenia (+21.2%) and Poland (+18.3%), and the largest decreases in Spain (-13.4%) and Bulgaria (-4.1%).
