In the construction sector, seasonally adjusted production decreased by 1.1% in the euro area (EA16) and by 3.3% in the EU27 in June 2009, compared with the previous month. In May, production fell by 2.0% and 2.5% respectively. Compared with June 2008, output in June 2009 dropped by 8.8% in the euro area and by 14.1% in the EU27.

Monthly comparison

Among the Member States for which data are available for June 2009, construction output fell in eight and rose in four. The largest decreases were recorded in Sweden (-3.8%), Portugal (-3.3%) and Slovakia (-2.0%), and the highest increases in Romania (+9.3%) and Bulgaria (+1.5%).

Building construction decreased by 1.6% in the euro area and by 4.8% in the EU27, after -2.1% and -2.5% respectively in May. Civil engineering increased by 0.1% in the euro area and by 0.8% in the EU27, after -0.4% and -1.1% respectively in the previous month.

Annual comparison

Among the Member States for which data are available for June 2009, construction output fell in ten and rose only in Germany (+1.2%) and Poland (+0.6%). The largest decreases were registered in Sweden (-16.6%), Slovenia (-15.8%) and Spain (-12.6%). Building construction decreased by 11.6% in the euro area and by 17.7% in the EU27, after -9.9% and -11.6% respectively in May. Civil engineering increased by 1.1% in the euro area and by 1.2% in the EU27, after +1.1% and -0.7% respectively in the previous month.

There was no specific data available for Malta.

These first estimates are released by Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Communities.