In the construction sector, seasonally adjusted production fell by 2.1% in the euro area (EA16) and by 1.7% in the EU27 in September 2010, compared with the previous month. In August, production decreased by 0.4% in the euro area and remained stable in the EU27.

Compared with September 2009, output in September 2010 dropped by 8.1% in the euro area and by 3.6% 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 September 2010, construction output fell in nine, rose in four and remained stable in the Czech Republic. The largest decreases were registered in Slovenia (-8.3%), Slovakia (-7.6%) and Portugal (-4.6%), and the highest increases in Romania (+4.0%), Poland (+2.9%) and Sweden (+1.4%).

Building construction fell by 0.6% in the euro area and by 2.3% in the EU27, after -0.9% and +0.5% respectively in August. Civil engineering decreased by 2.0% in the euro area and by 0.2% in the EU27, after -0.6% and +0.5% respectively in the previous month.

Annual comparison

Among the Member States for which data are available for September 2010, construction output fell in ten and rose in four. The largest decreases were registered in Spain (-37.3%), Slovenia (-18.5%) and Romania (-14.2%). The highest increases were recorded in Poland (+13.4%), Sweden and the United Kingdom (both +6.9%).

Building construction decreased by 7.5% in the euro area and by 4.6% in the EU27, after -5.9% and -2.7% respectively in August. Civil engineering dropped by 9.9% in the euro area, but increased by 2.6% in the EU27, after -11.6% and +1.9% respectively in the previous month.