Production index for construction, Q2 2008

Following a little decrease in the building activity from the fourth quarter last year to the first quarter this year, the seasonally adjusted figures increased by 1.6 per cent the last quarter. After a strong growth in the beginning of 2008, the production in the civil engineering sector decreased by 1.6 per cent from the first to the second quarter of this year.

Largest growth in renovation of buildings

Due to the early Easter this year, there were more working days in the second quarter this year than in the second quarter last year. This complicates a comparison between the quarters. Compared to the first half of 2007, total construction activity in the first half of 2008 increased by 2.8 per cent. The largest growth is recorded within renovation of buildings with 5.0 per cent, while the production of new buildings increased by 1.3 per cent. With that, the total building activity was 2.8 per cent higher in the first half of 2008 compared with the first half of last year. The production within civil engineering works was 2.3 per cent higher compared with the first six months of last year.

The growth from the first half of 2007 to the first half of 2008 is based on the average of the quarterly indexes from the first and the second quarter.

For international comparisons, go to EUROSTAT (EU).

Tables:

• Table 1 Construction, production index. 2000=100
• Table 2 Construction, production index. Seasonally adjusted and trend. 2000=100