In the construction sector, seasonally adjusted production rose by 1.8% in the euro area (EA17) and by 1.0% in the EU27 in January 2011, compared with the previous month. In December 2010, production fell by 2.0% and 3.5% respectively.

Compared with January 2010, output in January 2011 dropped by 4.5% in the euro area and by 1.2% 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 January 2011, construction output rose in five and fell in seven. The highest increases were registered in Germany (+36.3%), France (+7.9%) and Slovenia (+3.8%), and the largest decreases in the United Kingdom (-9.4%), Romania (-6.4%) and Poland (-3.1%).

Building construction rose by 1.1% in the euro area and by 2.6% in the EU27, after -1.0% and -4.7% respectively in December 2010. Civil engineering increased by 8.0% in the euro area and by 4.7% in the EU27, after -8.8% and -7.9% respectively in the previous month.

Annual comparison

Among the Member States for which data are available for January 2011, construction output rose in seven and fell in six. The highest increases were registered in Germany (+55.4%), Poland (+11.1%) and Sweden (+10.0%), and the largest decreases in Spain (-43.2%), Slovenia (-17.1%) and Bulgaria (-12.4%).

Building construction decreased by 3.1% in the euro area, but increased by 0.2% in the EU27, after -11.5% and -7.7% respectively in December 2010. Civil engineering dropped by 12.5% in the euro area and by 9.8% in the EU27, after -24.5% and -18.0% respectively in the previous month.