In the construction sector, seasonally adjusted production increased by 0.5% in both the euro area (EA16) and the EU27 in December 2009, compared with the previous month. In November, production fell by 0.8% and 0.4% respectively.

Compared with December 2008, output in December 2009 dropped by 3.1% in the euro area and by 3.3% in the EU27.

Compared with 2008, average construction output index in 2009 decreased by 8.0% in the euro area and by 8.2% in the EU27.

Monthly comparison

Among the Member States for which data are available for December 2009, construction output fell in eleven and rose only in Romania (+6.9%) and Spain (+6.2%). The largest decreases were recorded in Slovakia (-11.3%), Slovenia (-8.1%) and Bulgaria (-7.9%).

Building construction increased by 0.9% in the euro area and by 0.6% in the EU27, after -1.0% and -0.4% respectively in November. Civil engineering decreased by 2.2% in the euro area and by 0.5% in the EU27, after +0.9% and +0.4% respectively in the previous month.

Annual comparison

Among the Member States for which data are available for December 2009, construction output fell in ten and rose in Spain (+7.5%), Poland (+2.5%) and the Czech Republic (+2.3%). The largest decreases were registered in Bulgaria (-33.3%), Slovakia (-19.7%) and Slovenia (-18.8%).

Building construction fell by 4.0% in the euro area and by 4.9% in the EU27, after -8.9% and -8.6% respectively in November. Civil engineering increased by 1.4% in the euro area and by 5.0% in the EU27, after +0.9% and +2.8% respectively in the previous month.

There was no specific data available for Malta.

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

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