German Construction Sector Contracts Again

The S&P Global Germany Construction PMI rose to 48.0 in March 2026 from 43.7 in February, signaling a slower contraction in total activity. Housing activity fell at its shallowest rate so far this year, while civil engineering expanded at an accelerated pace. Commercial construction remained the weakest segment, with only a slight easing in its decline. Employment and purchasing also dropped more slowly than in February. Meanwhile, new orders fell at the fastest pace since July 2025, reflecting softer demand and cost pressures linked to the Middle East conflict. Input price inflation jumped to a record monthly increase, the highest since October 2022, driven by higher energy, fuel, and transport costs. Supply chain delays worsened, with building material lead times at their longest in almost three-and-a-half years. Business expectations fell sharply, turning negative for the first time in 2026, as constructors cited rising costs and weaker demand as major concerns.

The HCOB Germany Construction PMI fell to 43.7 in February 2026 from 44.7 in January, signaling a further contraction at the start of the year. Housing and commercial construction declined sharply, while civil engineering continued to expand for the fourth consecutive month, albeit at a slower pace than in December. New orders fell at the fastest rate in six months, reflecting weak demand and some disruption from severe winter conditions. Employment in the construction sector decreased, ending a three-month sequence of job creation, while purchasing activity dropped at the fastest pace in six months. Supplier delivery times lengthened to the greatest extent in three years, and input price inflation accelerated to a five-month high. Despite these challenges, business expectations for the next 12 months rose to the highest level since February 2020, supported by planned infrastructure projects and hopes of a milder winter.

The HCOB Germany Construction PMI fell to 44.7 in January 2026 from 50.3 in December, signaling a return to contraction after the first expansion in almost four years. The decline was driven by accelerated downturns in housing and commercial construction, while civil engineering activity continued to expand, rising in six of the past eight months, though slightly slower than December’s near 15-year high. New orders fell further, reflecting weak demand from housing, commercial projects, and local government. On a positive note, employment rose for the third consecutive month at the fastest pace since March 2022, and purchasing activity declined at the slowest rate in over three-and-a-half years. Input cost inflation reached a four-month high, alongside higher subcontractor charges. Despite ongoing challenges, business expectations turned positive for the first time since May 2025, marking the highest confidence since February 2020.