In the construction sector, seasonally adjusted production fell by 1.0% in the euro area (EA16) and by 0.6% in the EU27 in May 2010, compared with the previous month. In April, production decreased by 0.3% in the euro area, but rose by 0.5% in the EU27.

Compared with May 2009, output in May 2010 dropped by 6.3% in the euro area and by 2.4% 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 May 2010, construction output fell in seven, rose in six and remained unchanged in France. The largest decreases were registered in Romania (-6.6%), Slovakia (-5.6%) and Germany (-2.3%), and the highest increases in the Czech Republic (+7.2%), Poland and the Netherlands (both +3.7%).

Building construction fell by 1.0% in the euro area and by 0.5% in the EU27, after -1.0% and -0.1% respectively in April. Civil engineering decreased by 3.2% in the euro area and by 1.1% in the EU27, after +3.4% in both zones in the previous month.

Annual comparison

Among the Member States for which data are available for May 2010, construction output fell in ten and rose in four. The largest decreases were registered in Romania (-20.2%), Spain (-18.9%) and Bulgaria (-16.6%), and the highest increases in the United Kingdom (+10.0%), the Netherlands (+5.7%) and Germany (+3.8%).

Building construction decreased by 5.3% in the euro area and by 2.2% in the EU27, after -5.6% and -3.3% respectively in April. Civil engineering dropped by 9.9% in the euro area and by 1.5% in the EU27, after -5.9% and +0.3% respectively in the previous month.