In the construction sector, seasonally adjusted production fell by 0.7% in the euro area (EA17), but rose by 0.7% in the EU27 in February 2011, compared with the previous month. In January, production increased by 3.6% and 1.0% respectively.

Compared with February 2010, output in February 2011 rose by 3.5% in the euro area and by 2.9% in the EU27.

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

Monthly comparison

Among the Member States for which data are available for February 2011, construction output rose in eight and fell in five. The highest increases were registered in the United Kingdom (+8.2%), Portugal (+4.3%) and Germany (+3.4%), and the largest decreases in Slovenia (-7.9%) and Slovakia (-3.8%).

Building construction decreased by 0.9% in the euro area, but increased by 0.6% in the EU27, after +1.5% and +2.4% respectively in January. Civil engineering rose by 0.2% in the euro area and by 1.2% in the EU27, after +16.3% and +12.9% respectively in the previous month.

Annual comparison

Among the Member States for which data are available for February 2011, construction output rose in six and fell in eight. The highest increases were registered in Germany (+56.3%), Poland (+21.3%) and the Netherlands (+15.4%), and the largest decreases in Spain (-31.3%), Slovenia (-20.0%) and Bulgaria (-13.6%).

Building construction increased by 3.6% in the euro area and by 3.4% in the EU27, after -2.6% and +0.8% respectively in January. Civil engineering rose by 0.4% in the euro area, but dropped by 1.1% in the EU27, after -12.8% and -9.9% respectively in the previous month.