Brussels, 17/02/2010 (Agence Europe) - In December 2009, production in the construction sector increased by 0.5% in both the Euro zone and the EU of 27, compared to the previous month, when it fell by 0.8% and 0.4% respectively. Compared to December 2008, production recorded a drop of 3.1% in the Euro zone in December 2009 and a drop of 3.3% in the EU of 27.
A monthly comparison shows that production in the construction sector fell in 11 Member States and increased only in Romania (+6.9%) and in Spain (+6.2%). The sharpest drops were recorded in Slovakia (-11.3%), Slovenia (-8.1%) and in Bulgaria (-7.9%). The building sector grew by 0.9% in the Euro zone and by 0.6% in the EU of 27, after figures of -1.0% and -0.4% respectively in November. Civil engineering saw a fall of 2.2% in the Euro zone and of 0.5% in the EU of 27, after drops of +0.9% and +0.4% respectively the previous month.
Taken over a year, production in the construction sector fell in 10 Member States and grew in Spain (+7.5%), Poland (+2.5%) and in the Czech Republic (+2.3%). The sharpest drops were to be found in Bulgaria (-33.3%), Slovakia (-19.7%) and in Slovenia (-18.8%). The building sector took a fall of 4.0% in the Euro zone and of 4.9% in the EU of 27, after drops of -8.9% and -8.6% respectively in November. Civil engineering grew by 1.4% in the Euro zone and by 5.0% in the EU of 27, after +0.9% and +2.8% respectively the previous month. (A.B./trans.fl)