Construction production went up by 2.1 per cent in the second quarter when compared to the same period last year, figures published show.

However, the increase represents a slowdown from the previous quarter, according to Eurostat, the EU statistical agency. The first quarter had registered a year-on-year increase of 2.8 per cent.

Eurostat said that, among member states for which data was available, the highest increases in production in construction were recorded in Slovakia (23.4 per cent), Romania (15.1 per cent) and the Czech Republic (14.0 per cent).

The largest declines were registered in Slovenia (14.0 per cent), France (three per cent) and the UK (2.3 per cent).