Europe’s construction output fell more than 2% last year

Last year saw average construction output in the Eurozone fall 2.9% compared to 2012, with output from all member states (the EU28) registering a 2.2% drop, according to data from Eurostat.

However, the year ended on a mixed note. Construction output from the EU28 grew 0.8% year-on-year in December, while Eurozone output was down 0.2% for the final month of 2013, compared to December 2012.

The largest year-on-year decreases for December were registered in Portugal (14.1%), Italy (8.8%) and Spain (4.7%), and the highest increases in Hungary (11.5%), Slovakia (9.2%) and the UK (6.8%).

In terms of sectors, December’s building construction output dropped 0.9% year-on-year in the Eurozone, but increased 0.1% in the EU28. Civil engineering output was up 1.7% in the Eurozone and 2.3% in the EU28.

Comparing December with November last year also revealed a positive trend. Construction output was up 0.9% month-on-month in the Eurozone, and 1% in the EU28.

The highest month-on-month increases were registered in the Czech Republic (6%), France (4.5%) and Slovakia (2.9%), and the largest decreases in Slovenia (17.2%), Poland (4.1%) and Spain (3.3%).

Building construction output grew 0.6% in the Eurozone between November and December 2013, and 0.7% in the EU28. Civil engineering output was up 3.8% in the Eurozone and 3.5% in the EU28.