In the construction sector, seasonally adjusted production was stable in the euro area (EA16) and grew by 0.5% in the EU27 in October 2010, compared with the previous month. In September, production fell by 1.6% and 1.2% respectively.

Compared with October 2009, output in October 2010 dropped by 6.8% in the euro area and by 1.9% 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 October 2010, construction output rose in five and fell in seven. The highest increases were registered in Slovakia and Sweden (both +2.0%), the Czech Republic and Germany (both +1.3%), and the largest decreases in Portugal (-6.6%), Romania and Slovenia (both -1.3%).

Building construction remained stable in the euro area and increased by 0.5% in the EU27, after +0.5% and -1.8% respectively in September. Civil engineering rose by 0.4% in the euro area and by 0.5% in the EU27, after -1.1% and -0.7% respectively in the previous month.

Annual comparison

Among the Member States for which data are available for October 2010, construction output fell in eight and rose in five. The largest decreases were registered in Spain (-34.1%), Slovenia (-17.6%) and Bulgaria (-10.7%), and the highest increases in Sweden (+18.5%), Poland (+10.4%) and the United Kingdom (+9.5%).

Building construction decreased by 6.6% in the euro area and by 1.3% in the EU27, after -7.1% and -2.7% respectively in September. Civil engineering dropped by 8.7% in the euro area and by 4.9% in the EU27, after -10.2% and -6.0% respectively in the previous month.