In the construction sector, seasonally adjusted production fell by 1.8% in the euro area (EA16) and by 3.1% in the EU27 in December 2010, compared with the previous month. In November, production decreased by 0.9% and 0.8% respectively.

Compared with December 2009, output in December 2010 dropped by 12.0% in the euro area and by 8.0% in the EU27.

Compared with 2009, the average construction output index in 2010 decreased by 7.4% in the euro area and by 4.1% 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 December 2010, construction output fell in eight and rose in four. The highest decreases were registered in Germany (-24.1%), the United Kingdom (-15.2%), the Czech Republic (-13.3%) and Bulgaria (-13.0%), and the largest increases in Romania (+17.6%) and Slovenia (+5.3%).

Building construction fell by 0.9% in the euro area and by 3.9% in the EU27, after -0.7% and -0.2% respectively in November. Civil engineering decreased by 10.6% in the euro area and by 7.9% in the EU27, after -2.5% and -1.2% respectively in the previous month.

Annual comparison

Among the Member States for which data are available for December 2010, construction output fell in ten and rose in three. The largest decreases were registered in Germany (-23.6%), Spain (-19.8%) and the Czech Republic (-15.6%), and the increases in Sweden (+10.8%), Poland (+10.7%) and Slovakia (+0.5%).

Building construction decreased by 8.9% in the euro area and by 6.3% in the EU27, after -5.7% and -0.5% respectively in November. Civil engineering dropped by 26.2% in the euro area and by 17.3% in the EU27, after -10.7% and -5.9% respectively in the previous month.