In the construction sector, seasonally adjusted production decreased by 0.4% in the euro area (EA16) and by 0.5% in the EU27 in August 2009, compared with the previous month. In July, production fell by 1.4% and 0.5% respectively.

Compared with August 2008, output in August 2009 dropped by 11.3% in the euro area and by 11.1% in the EU27.

Monthly comparison

Among the Member States for which data are available for August 2009, construction output rose in five and fell in seven. The highest increases were registered in Germany (+4.2%), Slovakia (+3.6%) and Sweden (+2.9%), and the largest decreases in Romania (-7.9%), Bulgaria (-3.6%), Spain and France (both -1.6%).

Building construction decreased by 1.2% in the euro area and by 0.7% in the EU27, after -1.4% and -0.1% respectively in July. Civil engineering increased by 4.1% in the euro area and by 3.0% in the EU27, after -3.0% and -2.4% respectively in the previous month.

Annual comparison

Among the Member States for which data are available for August 2009, construction output rose in four and fell in eight. The highest increases were registered in Poland (+9.9%), Sweden (+9.5%) and Germany (+1.9%), and the largest decreases in Romania (-29.0%), Spain (-21.1%) and Slovenia (-19.6%).

Building construction fell by 15.9% in the euro area and by 15.0% in the EU27, after -12.2% and -13.2% respectively in July. Civil engineering increased by 3.5% in the euro area and by 5.2% in the EU27, after -2.2% and +0.6% respectively in the previous month.