According to the report from IHS Markit, eurozone constructors saw a modest rise in activity during April, extending the current sequence of expansion to two-and-a-half years. The rate of growth was roughly in line with that recorded in March, as faster increases in both housing and commercial activity offset a contraction in civil engineering. Meanwhile, new order growth eased to its softest since a decline last August, and firms reported a slower rate of workforce expansion. Costs continued to rise sharply, but the pace of inflation decelerated to its softest for a year.

Falling fractionally from 52.2 in March to 52.1 in April, the IHS Markit Eurozone Construction PMI signalled a moderate rise in total construction activity, with the rate of growth broadly consistent with that in March. Across the euro area's three largest economies, the quickest expansion was seen in Germany, followed by Italy and France respectively.