Incoming orders in Germany's main construction sector increased significantly in August 2026, driven by several major contracts that resulted in the highest seasonally adjusted monthly rise since the time series began in 1991, according to data released by the Federal Statistical Office, known as Destatis. Specifically, the real, price-adjusted incoming orders climbed by 23.0 percent on a calendar- and seasonally-adjusted basis compared to the preceding month of July 2026.
A breakdown of the figures by construction segments shows that incoming orders in building construction rose by 12.4 percent, while civil engineering experienced a considerably stronger increase of 31.6 percent. Looking at the less volatile three-month comparison covering the period from June 2026 to August 2026, the calendar- and seasonally-adjusted incoming orders were 7.6 percent higher than in the preceding three-month period. Within this timeframe, building construction saw a modest gain of 0.6 percent, whereas civil engineering recorded an increase of 13.8 percent.
When compared against the same month of the previous year, August 2025, the real, calendar-adjusted incoming orders in the main construction sector grew by 17.3 percent in August 2026. Developments across sectors diverged in this annual comparison, as building construction orders declined by 1.7 percent, while civil engineering orders surged by 36.4 percent. Furthermore, the nominal, non-price-adjusted incoming orders stood 23.8 percent above the corresponding value recorded in the prior year.
Regarding business turnover, the real revenue in the main construction sector was 4.9 percent higher in August 2026 than in the same month one year earlier. Concurrently, the nominal turnover registered an increase of 10.1 percent over the same period, reaching a total of 10.9 billion euros.
Employment figures within the sector also showed growth during the month under review. The number of persons employed in establishments belonging to enterprises with 20 or more active workers increased by 1.5 percent in August 2026 compared to August 2025, bringing total employment to approximately 548,000 persons. All reported data cover establishments belonging to enterprises with at least 20 active persons that primarily engage in activities such as the erection of structural shell buildings, civil engineering works, or specialized construction activities.
Methodological details provided by Destatis note that short-term economic trends are primarily observed through calendar- and seasonally-adjusted month-on-month or quarter-on-quarter comparisons. Meanwhile, the calendar-adjusted year-on-year comparison is utilized for longer-term level comparisons that remain independent of seasonal fluctuations and calendar effects. Comprehensive base data and extended time series concerning the main construction sector are accessible through the GENESIS-Online database tables and the official Dashboard Konjunktur portal, which compiles high-frequency economic and financial indicators.
