Seasonally adjusted production in the construction sector decreased by 14.1% in the euro area and by 12.0% in the EU in March, compared with February 2020, according to first estimates from Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.
In February 2020, production in construction fell by 0.5% in the euro area and by 0.2% in the EU. In March 2020 compared with March 2019, production in construction decreased by 15.4% in the euro area and by 13.4% in the EU.
Monthly comparison by construction sector and by Member State
In the euro area in March 2020, compared with February 2020, civil engineering decreased by 16.0% and building construction by 14.0%.
In the EU, civil engineering decreased by 13.7% and building construction by 11.8%. Among Member States for which data are available, the largest decreases in production in construction were recorded in France (-40.2%), Italy (-36.2%) and Slovenia (-11.9%). The highest increases were observed in Romania (+2.1%), Germany (+1.8%) and Netherlands (+1.5%).
Annual comparison by construction sector and by Member State
In the euro area in March 2020, compared with March 2019, civil engineering decreased by 17.2% and building construction by 15.2%.
In the EU civil engineering decreased by 14.9% and building construction by 13.3.
Among Member States for which data are available, the largest decreases in production in construction were observed in France (-41.2%), Italy (-35.4%) and Belgium (-23.2%). The highest increases were observed in Romania (+28.1%), Germany (+5.1%), Poland and Finland (both +1.5%).
Geographical information
The euro area (EA19) includes Belgium, Germany, Estonia, Ireland, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Austria, Portugal, Slovenia, Slovakia and Finland.
The European Union (EU27) includes Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechia, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Ireland, Greece, Spain
France, Croatia, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, the Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal,
Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Finland and Sweden.
Estonia, Ireland, Greece, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania and Malta are not required to supply monthly data under Council Regulation
1165/98
