France construction confidence indicator
France construction confidence indicator stood at -17.2 Balance of opinion (%) in Sep 2026, according to Eurostat – economic sentiment and confidence indicators by sector, monthly (ei_bssi_m_r2, European Commission business and consumer surveys). It is one of the indicators in the EU harmonised business and consumer surveys table (Value · Monthly), with a complete series running from Jan 1980 to Sep 2026. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the EU harmonised business and consumer surveys table
| Indicator | 09-2026 | 08-2026 | 07-2026 | 06-2026 | 05-2026 | 04-2026 | 03-2026 | 02-2026 | 01-2026 | 12-2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction confidence indicator | -17.2 | -18.2 | -19.2 | -18.4 | -17.3 | -18 | -16.3 | -16.7 | -16.4 | -15.3 | |
| Economic sentiment indicator (ESI) | 96.2 | 97.9 | 95.9 | 93.7 | 94.3 | 92.9 | 95.7 | 99 | 101 | 94.4 | |
| Industrial confidence indicator | -5.2 | -3.4 | -5.9 | -7.8 | -6.6 | -8.1 | -7.8 | -5.7 | -1.3 | -8.8 |
Understanding france construction confidence indicator
The construction confidence indicator measures business sentiment among construction firms, focusing on builders' current order books and employment expectations. This series targets building and civil engineering activity, isolating capital projects and infrastructure sentiment from factory production and service sector trends. Survey participants report on factors limiting their activity, such as labor shortages or financial constraints, alongside their short-term outlook. This metric excludes consumer retail dynamics and manufacturing inventory cycles.
Weather conditions create pronounced seasonal fluctuations in construction activity, making seasonal adjustment critical for interpreting underlying monthly momentum. Analysts monitor sequential shifts in the balance of opinion to track turning points in capital investment and real estate development. Comparing construction confidence with industrial confidence illustrates whether physical expansion in buildings matches trends in factory goods production.
Frequently asked questions
- Which activities are included in the construction survey scope?
- The survey covers residential building, non-residential construction, and civil engineering projects.
- What primary indicators do builders evaluate when responding?
- Respondents assess the level of their current order books and their employment expectations for the months ahead.
- How do weather disruptions affect construction confidence readings?
- Unfavorable weather can depress activity, which seasonal adjustment models attempt to filter out to reveal structural trends.