Eurostat has reported that services production increased in both the euro area and the European Union in January 2026, reflecting a continued recovery in the sector.

The first estimates showed that seasonally adjusted services output rose by 1.2 per cent in the euro area and by 0.6 per cent in the EU compared with December 2025.

In the previous month, services production remained stable in the euro area, while it grew by 0.4 per cent in the EU.

On an annual basis, services production increased by 1.5 per cent in the euro area and by 1.4 per cent in the EU compared with January 2025.

The monthly data indicated that information and communication recorded the strongest growth in the euro area, rising by 4.3 per cent compared with December.

At the same time, transportation and storage increased by 1.1 per cent, while real estate activities rose by 0.4 per cent and professional, scientific and technical activities edged up by 0.2 per cent.

In contrast, accommodation and food services declined by 0.7 per cent, while administrative and support services fell by 0.5 per cent in the euro area.

Across the EU, information and communication also led growth, increasing by 3.4 per cent in January.

Transportation and storage rose by 0.4 per cent, while professional, scientific and technical activities increased by 0.1 per cent.

However, real estate activities decreased by 1.0 per cent in the EU, alongside a 0.7 per cent drop in accommodation and food services and a 0.4 per cent decline in administrative and support services.

Among member states, Estonia recorded the highest monthly increase at 22.1 per cent, followed by Greece at 4.9 per cent and Germany at 2.9 per cent.

The largest monthly declines were seen in Romania at 10.6 per cent, Denmark at 5.2 per cent and Poland at 5.1 per cent.

Looking at annual performance, information and communication again stood out in the euro area, rising by 6.6 per cent compared with January 2025.

Real estate activities increased by 1.2 per cent, while professional, scientific and technical activities rose by 0.9 per cent and transportation and storage grew by 0.6 per cent.

Meanwhile, administrative and support services fell by 1.1 per cent, and accommodation and food services declined by 0.4 per cent in the euro area.

In the EU, information and communication increased by 5.8 per cent year-on-year, while professional, scientific and technical activities rose by 1.0 per cent and real estate activities by 1.0 per cent.

Transportation and storage grew by 0.6 per cent, while accommodation and food services fell by 0.3 per cent and administrative and support services declined by 0.9 per cent.

At the national level, Estonia again recorded the strongest annual growth at 20.0 per cent, followed by Greece at 7.6 per cent and Slovenia at 5.2 per cent.

The largest annual decreases were observed in Romania at 5.8 per cent, Hungary at 5.3 per cent and Luxembourg at 2.2 per cent.