In May 2015, seasonally-adjusted production in the construction sector rose by 0.3 per cent in the euro area (EA19) and fell by 0.3 per cent in the EU 28, according to the first estimates from Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. In April 2015, production in construction dropped by 0.2 per cent and 0.6 per cent, respectively.

In May 2015 compared with May 2014, production in construction grew by 0.3 per cent in the euro area and by 0.5 per cent in the EU28.

The increase of 0.3 per cent in the euro area in May 2015, compared with April 2015, is attributed to building construction rising by 0.2 per cent and civil engineering by 1.3 per cent.

In the EU28, the decrease of 0.3 per cent is due to building construction falling by 0.6 per cent, while civil engineering rose by 1.6 per cent.

Monthly comparison
Among Member States for which data are available, the highest increases in production in construction were observed in Slovakia (+3.8 per cent), The Netherlands (+2.7 per cent) and France (+1.0 per cent). The largest decreases were recorded in Slovenia (-6.2 per cent), Poland (-4.8 per cent), Bulgaria (-3.3 per cent) and Hungary (-3.1 per cent).

Annual comparison
Annual comparison by construction sector and by Member State The increase of 0.3 per cent in output in the euro area in May 2015, compared with May 2014, is due to civil engineering rising by 1.7 per cent, while building construction fell by 0.1 per cent.

In the EU28, the increase of 0.5 per cent is due to civil engineering rising by 4.7 per cent, while building construction fell by 0.4 per cent.

Among Member States for which data are available, the highest increases in production in construction were registered in Slovakia (+18.7 per cent), The Netherlands (+16.4 per cent), the Czech Republic (+13.4 per cent) and Sweden (+13.3 per cent) and the largest decreases in Slovenia (-9.9 per cent), Bulgaria (-7.0 per cent), France (-2.8 per cent) and Italy (-2.5 per cent).