In the construction sector, seasonally adjusted production decreased by 1.1% in the euro area (EA15) and by 1.6% in the EU27 in November 2008, compared with the previous month. In October, production fell by 0.1% in the euro area, but increased by 0.5% in the EU27.

Compared with November 2007, output in November 2008 dropped by 4.7% in the euro area and by 4.2% in the EU27.

Monthly comparison

Among the Member States for which data is available for November 2008, construction output rose in three, fell in eight and remained unchanged in Germany and the United Kingdom. The increases were registered in Sweden (+1.2%), Slovakia (+1.1%) and Romania (+0.8%). The largest decreases were recorded in Slovenia (-20.3%), Portugal (-6.5%) and Bulgaria (-6.1%).

Building construction fell by 0.9% in the euro area and by 1.5% in the EU27, after -0.1% and +0.6% respectively in October. Civil engineering decreased by 0.7% in the euro area and by 2.0% in the EU27, after -0.7% and +0.2% respectively in the previous month.

Annual comparison

Among the Member States for which data is available for November 2008, construction output rose in five and fell in eight. The highest increases were recorded in Slovakia (+16.5%), Romania (+13.8%) and Poland (+7.0%). The largest decreases were registered in Spain (-9.7%), Slovenia (-8.2%) and the United Kingdom (-6.3%).

Building construction decreased by 5.2% in the euro area and by 4.6% in the EU27, after -4.3% and -4.1% respectively in October. Civil engineering fell by 4.7% in the euro area and by 2.5% in the EU27, after -5.0% and -2.9% respectively in the previous month.

Note: No specific data was available for Malta.

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