Construction output down by 1.3% in euro area

In the construction sector, seasonally adjusted production fell by 1.3% in the euro area (EA17) and by 1.0% in the EU27 in September 2011, compared with the previous month. In August, production decreased by 0.4% and 0.3% respectively.

Compared with September 2010, output in September 2011 increased by 0.4% in the euro area and by 0.6% 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 September 2011, construction output decreased in five and rose in seven. The largest decreases were registered in France (-5.8%), Portugal (-5.1%) and the United Kingdom (-2.3%), and the highest increases in Slovenia ( 7.8%), Poland ( 4.1%) and Slovakia ( 3.9%).

Building construction decreased by 0.6% in the euro area and by 1.5% in the EU27, after -0.2% in both zones in August. Civil engineering fell by 0.8% in the euro area, but rose by 0.2% in the EU27, after -1.3% and -0.5% respectively in the previous month.

Annual comparison

Among the Member States for which data are available for September 2011, construction output rose in seven and fell in six. The highest increases were registered in Poland ( 17.1%), Sweden ( 6.3%) and the Netherlands ( 5.2%), and the largest decreases in Slovenia (-17.0%), Bulgaria (-11.5%) and Portugal (-10.0%).

Building construction increased by 0.3% in the euro area and remained stable in the EU27, after 2.1% and 1.0% respectively in August. Civil engineering remained stable in the euro area and rose by 3.0% in the EU27, after 0.5% and 2.6% respectively in the previous month.