OREANDA-NEWS. In January 2016 compared with December 2015, seasonally adjusted production in the construction sector increased by 3.6% in the euro area (EA19) and by 1.6% in the EU28, according to first estimates from Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. In December 2015, production in construction fell by 0.7% in the euro area and by 0.1% in the EU28.

In January 2016 compared with January 2015, production in construction grew by 6.0% in the euro area and by 4.4% in the EU28.

Monthly comparison by construction sector and by Member State

The increase of 3.6% in production in construction in the euro area in January 2016, compared with December 2015, is due to building construction rising by 4.1% and civil engineering by 1.7%. In the EU28, the increase of 1.6% is due to building construction rising by 2.7%, while civil engineering fell by 2.5%. Among Member States for which data are available, the highest increases in production in construction were recorded in France (+7.3%), Germany (+7.0%) and Spain (+2.6%), and the largest decreases in Hungary (-13.0%), Romania (-6.4%) and Slovakia (-6.2%).

Annual comparison by construction sector and by Member State

The increase of 6.0% in production in construction in the euro area in January 2016, compared with January 2015, is due to building construction rising by 7.1% and civil engineering by 1.4%. In the EU28, the increase of 4.4% is due to building construction rising by 5.3%, while civil engineering fell by 0.8%. Among Member States for which data are available, the highest increases in production in construction were recorded in Spain (+20.3%), Sweden (+18.0%) and Slovakia (+16.4%), and the largest decreases in Slovenia (-23.4%), Hungary (-20.2%) and Bulgaria (-10.7%).