In the construction sector, seasonally adjusted production decreased by 2.0% in the euro area (EA16) and by 1.1% in the EU27 in July 2009, compared with the previous month. In June, production fell by 0.3% and 0.8% respectively.

Compared with July 2008, output in July 2009 dropped by 10.8% in the euro area and by 11.1% in the EU27.

Monthly comparison

Among the Member States for which data are available for July 2009, construction output fell in nine and rose only in Poland (+5.2%), Sweden (+1.7%) and Portugal (+0.2%). The largest decreases were recorded in Romania (-9.0%), Slovenia (-4.6%) and Spain (-4.1%).

Building construction decreased by 1.7% in the euro area and by 0.4% in the EU27, after -0.8% and -1.7% respectively in June. Civil engineering fell by 3.9% in the euro area and by 3.1% in the EU27, after +0.2% and +1.0% respectively in the previous month.

Annual comparison

Among the Member States for which data are available for July 2009, construction output fell in ten and rose only in Poland (+10.6%) and Germany (+1.9%). The largest decreases were registered in Spain and Slovenia (both -20.5%) and Romania (-17.5%).

Building construction fell by 12.9% in the euro area and by 13.7% in the EU27, after -10.9% and -12.8% respectively in June. Civil engineering decreased by 3.0% in the euro area but increased by 0.3% in the EU27, after +1.7% and +4.0% respectively in the previous month.

Note: No data was available from Malta.

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