In February 2021 compared with January 2021, seasonally adjusted production in the construction sector decreased by 2.1% in the euro area and by 1.6% in the EU, according to first estimates from Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. In January 2021, production in construction increased by 0.8% in the euro area and by 1.0% in the EU.
In February 2021 compared with February 2020, production in construction decreased by 5.8 % in the Euro Area and by 5.4 % in the EU.
Monthly comparison by construction sector and by Member State
In the euro area in February 2021, compared with January 2021, civil engineering decreased by 3.4 % and building construction by 1.9 %.
In the EU, civil engineering decreased by 3.2 % and building construction by 1.3 %.
Among Member States for which data are available, the largest decreases in production in construction were recorded in Hungary (-11.7 %), Poland (-6.9 %), France and Slovakia (both -6.0 %). Increases were observed in Sweden (+9.2 %), Austria (+8.8 %), Romania (+2.3 %) and Bulgaria (+0.2 %).
Annual comparison by construction sector and by Member State
In the euro area in February 2021, compared with February 2020, civil engineering decreased by 10.4% and building construction by 4.8%.
In the EU civil engineering decreased by 9.8% and building construction by 4.1 %.
Among Member States for which data are available, the largest decreases in production in construction were observed in Slovakia (-24.4 %), Poland (-18.1 %) and Spain (-17.1 %). Increases were recorded in Sweden (+5.8 %), Austria (+3.6 %) and Romania (+1.6 %).
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, Greece, Croatia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg and Malta are not required to supply monthly data within 1 month and 15 days after the end of the reference month under Regulation (EU) 2019/2152. Ireland has applied for a derogation to remain with quarterly frequency and Denmark to have a longer deadline until the end of 2023.
Methods and definitions
The index of production in construction approximates the evolution of the volume of production within the sector, broken down into building construction and civil engineering.
Seasonally adjusted euro area and EU series are calculated by aggregating the seasonally adjusted national data. Eurostat carries out the seasonal adjustment of the data for those countries that do not adjust their data for seasonal effects.
The monthly index as presented in this News Release is calculated only on the basis of the data of those countries reporting monthly data. Missing observations from Member States for recent months are estimated for the calculation of the euro area and the EU aggregates.
Revisions and timetable
Data of previous months have been revised compared with those issued in News Release 33/2021 of 17 March 2021. The monthly percentage change for January 2021 remained stable at +0.8 % in the euro area and was revised from +0.9 % to +1.0 % in the EU. The annual percentage change has been revised from -1.9 % to -2.6 % in the Euro Area and from -1.8 % to -2.3 % in the EU.