In the construction sector, seasonally adjusted production rose by 0.7% in the euro area (EA17) and by 0.2% in the EU27 in August 2012, compared with the previous month, according to first estimates released by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. In July 2012, production increased by 0.1% in the euro area and decreased by 0.1% in the EU27. Compared with August 2011, production in August 2012 dropped by 5.5% in the euro area and by 6.8% in the EU27.

Monthly comparison

Among the Member States for which data are available for August 2012, production in construction rose in eight and fell in seven. The highest increases were registered in Portugal (+10.4%), Italy (+5.3%) and Romania (+2.8%), and the largest decreases in Hungary (-5.3%), Germany (-2.8%) and the Czech Republic (-1.7%).

Building construction increased by 1.2% in the euro area and dropped by 0.1% in the EU27, after -0.3% and -0.4% respectively in July 2012. Civil engineering decreased by 0.7% in the euro area, but rose by 2.2% in the EU27, after 0.0% and -0.2% respectively in the previous month.

Annual comparison

Among the Member States for which data are available for August 2012, production in construction fell in eleven and rose in four. The largest decreases were registered in Portugal (-17.3%), Slovenia (-14.8%), Slovakia (-11.9%) and the United Kingdom (-11.6%), and the increases in Romania (+5.1%), Bulgaria (+1.3%), Sweden (+1.0%) and Germany (+0.7%).

Building construction declined by 5.2% in the euro area and by 6.9% in the EU27, after -5.7% and -6.0% respectively in July 2012. Civil engineering decreased by 7.9% in the euro area and by 7.5% in the EU27, after -6.8% and -10.5% respectively in the previous month.