News 2026

On 7 September, the Statistical Office of the EU (Eurostat) published its update offering a timely reason to revisit the 2026 edition of the FIEC Statistical Report and the conditions needed for a sustained recovery. Our report provides a detailed view of a sector emerging from two difficult years. Its European overview and national chapters bring together results for 2025 and forecasts for 2026, helping companies and policymakers understand how conditions differ across markets and construction activities.

FIEC reports a further fall in real construction investment in 2025 and forecasts a moderate return to growth in 2026. Civil engineering remains a source of strength, supported by infrastructure investment, while building activity is expected to improve gradually. The report nevertheless stresses that recovery depends on financing conditions, public investment, costs and the ability to bring projects forward.

Eurostat’s news item provides a more recent snapshot. EU total market production edged down in June, with construction among the main sources of weakness. Construction production fell by 1.0% compared with May. The detailed construction release also shows that output was only slightly above June 2025, with building construction still weaker than civil engineering. These indicators describe different aspects of the market. FIEC’s figures concern annual construction investment, with 2026 still a forecast. Eurostat measures production already recorded over a single month, using adjusted data. June’s decline cannot on its own confirm or invalidate the annual forecast, but it shows that the path to recovery remains uneven. The distinction matters when using the figures in business planning or policy discussions.

Other Eurostat construction data are available here.