Eurozone Construction Activity Up 12.4%

The eurozone construction sector recorded an increase in activity in March of 12.4% over the previous month, when it had fallen by 10.4%, while year-on-year the decline was 3.8%, according to data published on Monday by the European statistics office, Eurostat.

In the whole of the European Union, production in the construction sector soared 11.8% from February, when it had fallen by 5.7%, while year-on-year it had dropped by 3.9%.

Specifically with regards to Spain, the construction sector activity decreased by 1.8% in March over the previous month, when it had fallen by 1.7%, while in annual terms it dropped by 10.9%.
Cinco Dias reported that among the countries for which data were available, the activity in the construction sector increased in ten of the countries and decreased in four.

The largest increases were registered in Germany (+30.7%), France (+17.8%), United Kingdom (+14.8%) and Italy (+9.5%), while the most significant declines were recorded in Romania (-8.8%), Portugal (-6.8%) and Spain (-1.8%).

Compared to March 2011, the greatest advances year-on-year were recorded in Sweden (+7.9%), Germany (+6.3%) and Poland (+2.4%), while the largest declines were observed in Portugal (-16.4%), Slovakia (-11%), Spain (-10.9%) and Slovenia (-10.7%). Specifically, construction activity fell in nine countries and increased in five.

http://news.kyero.com/2012/05/22/construction-activity-in-the-eurozone-up-12-4-in-march/