In the construction sector, seasonally adjusted production increased by 0.1% in the euro area (EA15) but decreased by 0.2% in the EU27 in August 2008, compared with the previous month. In July, production grew by 0.1% and fell by 0.8% respectively. Compared with August 2007, output in August 2008 dropped by 2.5% in the euro area and by 1.5% in the EU27. These first estimates are released by Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Communities.

Monthly comparison - Among the Member States for which data was available for August 2008, construction output rose in six and fell in seven. The most significant increases were registered in Germany (+5.5%), Romania (+2.4%) and Spain (+1.4%), and the largest decreases in Portugal (-6.6%), Slovenia (-4.9%) and Bulgaria (-4.7%).

Building construction grew by 0.3% in the euro area and by 0.1% in the EU27, after 0.0% and -0.8% respectively in July. Civil engineering increased by 1.3% in the euro area but decreased by 0.7% in the EU27, after -0.8% and -0.1% respectively in the previous month.

Annual comparison - Among the Member States for which data was available for August 2008, construction output rose in nine and fell in four. The highest increases were recorded in Romania (+28.5%), Slovakia (+10.4%) and Slovenia (+9.3%), and the largest decreases in Spain (-8.4%) and Portugal (-6.3%).

Building construction decreased by 2.2% in the euro area and by 1.2% in the EU27, after -3.2% and -1.7% respectively in July. Civil engineering fell by 2.2% in the euro area and by 1.5% in the EU27, after -4.4% and -1.4% respectively in the previous month.

Note: There was no specific data available for Malta for this period.