In the construction sector, seasonally adjusted production increased by 0.1% in the euro area (EA15) but decreased by 0.2% in the EU27 in August 2008, compared with the previous month. In July, production grew by 0.1% and fell by 0.8% respectively.

Compared with August 2007, output in August 2008 dropped by 2.5% in the euro area and by 1.5% in the EU27.

Monthly comparison

Among the Member States for which data are available for August 2008, construction output rose in six and fell in seven. The most significant increases were registered in Germany (+5.5%), Romania (+2.4%) and Spain (+1.4%), and the largest decreases in Portugal (-6.6%), Slovenia (-4.9%) and Bulgaria (-4.7%).

Building construction grew by 0.3% in the euro area and by 0.1% in the EU27, after 0.0% and -0.8% respectively in July. Civil engineering increased by 1.3% in the euro area but decreased by 0.7% in the EU27, after -0.8% and
-0.1% respectively in the previous month.

Annual comparison

Among the Member States for which data are available for August 2008, construction output rose in nine and fell in four. The highest increases were recorded in Romania (+28.5%), Slovakia (+10.4%) and Slovenia (+9.3%), and the largest decreases in Spain (-8.4%) and Portugal (-6.3%).

Building construction decreased by 2.2% in the euro area and by 1.2% in the EU27, after -3.2% and -1.7% respectively in July. Civil engineering fell by 2.2% in the euro area and by 1.5% in the EU27, after -4.4% and -1.4% respectively in the previous month.