Monthly Industry Briefings > Monthly Industry Forecasts > Construction

The upswing in construction activity in Germany, the euro zones mightiest economy, has really taken root.  The annual pace of advance of the index of real construction output increased to 10.2% in February, after achieving growth of 2.85% in Q4. It was boosted by civil engineering, which gained 21.8%.   The landscape of leading cities such as Berlin may be undergoing a profound transformation, as plans are afoot to erect high-rise residential buildings in response to housing shortages in the low-slung city. In Germany, indications are that some 7500 dwelling units will be completed in 2014, an advance of 25% on the 6000 units constructed in 2013.  But these numbers constitute but a drop in the ocean of rising demand for living space as immigration swells the population.