Euro area construction output slides in March

Construction output in the Eurozone fell in March as building activity fell back following an outsized jump in the month before.

Total production dropped by 1.1% month-on-month, according to Eurostat, following a rise of 5.5% in the month before.

Building activity was 1.7% lower after a rise of 5.1% in February while output in civil engineering rose by 1.1%, which came on top of a 7.1% increase in the month before.

Construction activity was especially weak in France, where it fell by 5.1% on the month, and in Spain, where it shrank by 1.7%.

In Germany on the other hand construction output grew by 1.5% and in the Netherlands by 1.0%.