Brussels, 19/06/2008 (Agence Europe) - In April 2008, output in the construction sector fell by 0.8% in the euro area and by 0.4% in the EU27, compared with the previous month, when it decreased by 2.8% and 2.7% respectively. Compared with April 2007, output in April 2008 dropped by 2.4% in the euro area and by 0.3% in the EU27.
Compared with March 2008, construction output rose in nine member states for which data are available, particularly in Portugal (10.6%), Bulgaria (6.9%) and Poland (3.2%), and fell in four, including Spain (-6.5%) and Germany (-2.9%). Building construction remained stable in both the euro area and the EU27, after -2.4% and -2.7% respectively in March. Civil engineering fell by 3.6% in the euro area and by 3.5% in the EU27, after -2.2% and -1.2% respectively in the previous month.
Year on year, in April 2008, construction output rose in ten member states, particularly recorded in Romania (30.0%), Slovenia (23.3%), Poland (22.8%) and Bulgaria (21.0%). It fell in three, with the highest decrease in Spain (-21.8%). Building construction fell by 1.8% in the euro area, but increased by 0.4% in the EU27, after -3.3% and -1.9% respectively in March. Civil engineering fell by 4.8% in the euro area and by 3.5% in the EU27, after +0.7% and +3.4% respectively in the previous month. (A.B./transl.rt)