Brussels, 18/10/2007 (Agence Europe) - In the construction sector, seasonally adjusted production rose by 0.4% in the euro area (EA13) and by 1.0% in the EU27 in August 2007, compared with the previous month. In July, production fell by 0.1% in the euro area and by 0.3% in the EU27. These estimates were released by Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Communities on Thursday 18 October. Compared with August 2006, output in August 2007 gained 2.8% in the euro area and 4.0% in the EU27. In July the annual growth was 1.4% in the euro area and 0.0% in the EU27.
In monthly terms construction output rose in nine member states and fell in four. The most significant increases were recorded in the United Kingdom (+6.1%), Romania (+3.2%), the Netherlands and Slovenia (both +2.5%). Decreases were registered in Slovakia (-2.2%), Spain (-1.4%), Portugal (-1.0%) and Sweden (-0.8%). Building construction rose by 0.2% in the euro area and by 0.8% in the EU27, after 0.0% and -0.2% respectively in July. Civil engineering increased by 0.6% in the euro area and by 1.5% in the EU27. (O.L.)