In the construction sector, seasonally adjusted production rose by 1.4% in the euro area (EA17) and by 0.3% in the EU27 in July 2011, compared with the previous month. In June, production decreased by 1.3% in the euro area and by 1.1% in the EU27.

Compared with July 2010, output in July 2011 increased by 1.2% in the euro area and by 0.2% 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 July 2011, construction output rose in Slovenia (+10.3%), Romania (+3.3%), Germany (+3.2%) and Poland (+1.2%), and fell in the other eight Member States. The largest decreases were registered in the United Kingdom (-4.3%), Sweden (-3.1%), Portugal (-2.8%) and the Czech Republic (-1.6%).

Building construction increased by 0.6% in the euro area, but decreased by 0.2% in the EU27, after -0.6% and ‑1.0% respectively in June. Civil engineering rose by 4.1% in the euro area and by 2.0% in the EU27, after ‑3.2% and -2.0% respectively in the previous month.

Annual comparison

Among the Member States for which data are available for July 2011, construction output rose in Poland (+17.4%), Romania (+14.4%), Spain (+12.5%) and Germany (+5.4%), and fell in the other nine Member States. The largest decreases were registered in Slovenia (-26.6%), Bulgaria (-13.3%), Portugal (-10.7%) and Sweden (-10.2%).

Building construction increased by 0.8% in the euro area, but decreased by 0.7% in the EU27, after -12.2% and ‑9.0% respectively in June. Civil engineering rose by 0.6% in the euro area and by 2.6% in the EU27, after ‑6.7% and -2.3% respectively in the previous month.