Construction output in the 17-nation euro area decreased 0.4 per cent in November according to first estimates released by Eurostat.

In Germany, Europe’s largest economy, November construction advanced one per cent from a month earlier, while Spain gained 1.2 per cent, according to today’s report. However, these gains were offset by falls in France and Italy, where output dropped 0.5 per cent and 3.4 per cent, respectively.

In the 27-nation EU, construction fell 0.9 per cent from October, when it rose 2.8 percent, according to the statistics arm of the European Commission.

 In October 2012, production remained stable in the euro area and increased by 2.8 per cent in the EU27.