In the construction sector, seasonally adjusted production fell by 0.4% in the euro area (EA16), but rose by 0.3% in the EU27 in August 2010, compared with the previous month. In July, production decreased by 3.2% and 2.5% respectively.

Compared with August 2009, output in August 2010 dropped by 8.5% in the euro area and by 1.3% in the EU27.

These first estimates are released by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.

Monthly comparison

Among the Member States for which data are available for August 2010, construction output rose in eight and fell in five. The highest increases were registered in Slovenia (+5.2%), Poland (+3.6%) and the United Kingdom (+2.7%), and the largest decreases in the Netherlands (-2.6%), Spain (-1.8%) and Romania (-1.3%).

Building construction fell by 1.7% in the euro area, but increased by 1.0% the EU27, after -6.7% and -4.9% respectively in July. Civil engineering decreased by 0.7% in the euro area and by 0.2% in the EU27, after -2.3% and -1.7% respectively in the previous month.

Annual comparison

Among the Member States for which data are available for August 2010, construction output fell in ten and rose in three. The largest decreases were registered in Spain (-34.7%), Romania (-20.4%) and the Netherlands (-14.1%). The increases were recorded in the United Kingdom (+15.6%), Poland (+8.6%) and Germany (+1.7%).

Building construction decreased by 6.9% in the euro area, but increased by 0.4% in the EU27, after -6.6% and -1.5% respectively in July. Civil engineering dropped by 13.1% in the euro area and by 6.3% in the EU27, after -7.5% and -2.8% respectively in the previous month.