In the construction sector, seasonally adjusted production decreased by 1.1% in the euro area (EA16) and by 0.6% in the EU27 in November 2009, compared with the previous month. In October, production fell by 0.4% and 0.3% respectively. Compared with November 2008, output in November 2009 dropped by 8.0% in the euro area and by 6.7% in the EU27.

Monthly comparison

Among the Member States for which data are available for November 2009, construction output rose in six and fell in six. The highest increases were recorded in Slovakia (+13.7%), Portugal (+4.1%) and Romania (+2.9%), and the largest decreases in Slovenia (-4.5%), Spain (-3.5%) and Bulgaria (-1.9%). Building construction fell by 1.5% in the euro area and by 0.7% in the EU27, after -0.6% and -0.4% respectively in October. Civil engineering increased by 0.9% in the euro area and by 0.6% in the EU27, after +0.2% and +0.6% respectively in the previous month.

Annual comparison

Among the Member States for which data are available for November 2009, construction output fell in nine and rose in Poland (+8.8%), the Czech Republic (+6.4%) and Germany (+3.8%). The largest decreases were registered in Romania (-24.4%), Bulgaria (-22.5%), Slovenia (-18.1%) and Spain (-16.5%). Building construction fell by 10.5% in the euro area and by 9.4% in the EU27, after -8.9% and -9.2% respectively in October. Civil engineering increased by 1.2% in the euro area and by 4.4% in the EU27, after +1.0% and +5.1% respectively in the previous month.

Their was no specific data available for Malta.

These first estimates are released by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.