In the construction sector, seasonally adjusted production fell by 1.1% in the euro area (EA17) and by 0.9% in the EU27 in May 2011, compared with the previous month. In April, production increased by 1.2% in the euro area, but decreased by 0.5% in the EU27.

Compared with May 2010, output in May 2011 dropped by 1.9% in the euro area and by 1.0% 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 2011, construction output fell in five and rose in eight. The largest decreases were registered in Slovenia (-9.8%), the Netherlands (-2.3%) and Slovakia (-1.3%), and the highest increases in Hungary (+6.5%), Poland (+3.7%) and Romania (+2.9%).

Building construction decreased by 0.7% in the euro area and by 1.3% in the EU27, after +0.4% and -0.8% respectively in April. Civil engineering fell by 1.2% in the euro area and by 0.2% in the EU27, after +1.3% and +0.9% respectively in the previous month.

Annual comparison

Among the Member States for which data are available for May 2011, construction output fell in nine and rose in five. The largest decreases were registered in Slovenia (-30.1%), Spain (-17.3%) and Bulgaria (-16.5%), and the highest increases in Poland (+24.7%), Sweden (+11.2%) and Germany (+8.0%).

Building construction fell by 3.0% in the euro area and by 2.5% in the EU27, after -2.0% and -1.4% respectively in April. Civil engineering rose by 1.6% in the euro area and by 4.4% in the EU27, after +1.5% and +3.1% respectively in the previous month.