In the construction sector, seasonally adjusted production rose by 0.2% in the euro area (EA17) and remained stable in the EU27 in August 2011, compared with the previous month. In July, production increased by 1.8% in the euro area and by 0.9% in the EU27. Compared with August 2010, output in August 2011 increased by 2.5% in the euro area and by 0.6% in the EU27.

Monthly comparison

Among the Member States for which data are available for August 2011, construction output rose in five, remained stable in the Czech Republic and decreased in seven. The highest increases were registered in Portugal (+7.6%), France (+3.2%) and Hungary (+1.5%), and the largest decreases in Slovenia (-6.6%), Romania (-4.5%) and Slovakia (-2.3%).

Building construction increased by 0.4% in the euro area and by 0.1% in the EU27, after +1.0% and +0.6% respectively in July. Civil engineering fell by 1.1% in the euro area and by 0.7% in the EU27, after +4.3% and +2.1% respectively in the previous month.

Annual comparison

Among the Member States for which data are available for August 2011, construction output rose in six and fell in eight. The highest increases were registered in Poland (+10.6%), Romania (+6.3%) and Germany (+5.2%), and the largest decreases in Slovenia (-32.8%), Hungary (-12.3%) and Portugal (-10.0%).

Building construction increased by 3.0% in the euro area, but fell by 0.1% in the EU27, after +1.8% and +0.9% respectively in July. Civil engineering rose by 0.5% in the euro area and by 3.2% in the EU27, after +1.0% and +3.5% respectively in the previous month.