Brussels, 17/06/2009 (Agence Europe) - According to initial estimates published by Eurostat on Wednesday 17 June 2009, seasonally adjusted production increased in the construction industry by 0.6% in the eurozone and by 0.7% in the EU27 in April 2009, compared with the previous month. In March 2009, production rose by 0.6% and by 0.1% respectively. Among the member states for which data are available for April 2009, construction output rose in six and fell in six in April 2009 compared with March 2009. The most significant increases were registered in the Czech Republic (+5.2%), Spain (+3.2%) and Sweden (+2.9%). The largest decreases were recorded in Slovenia (-12.1%), Romania (-6.1%) and Slovakia (-3.1%). Building construction increased by 0.6% in the euro area and by 2.7% in the EU27, following falls of 0.4% and 1.3% respectively in March 2009. Civil engineering decreased by 1.4% in the euro area and remained stable in the EU27, after +5.3% and +3.8% respectively in the previous month
Compared with April 2008, output in April 2009 dropped by 4.7% in the euro area and by 5.1% in the EU27. Construction output rose in four member states and fell in eight. The biggest rises were recorded in Germany (+6.1%), Sweden (+4.6%) and the Czech Republic (+3.3%). The biggest falls were recorded in Slovenia (-22.8%), Romania (-13.7%) and Slovakia (-12.7%). Building output fell by 6.7% in the euro area and by 7.1% in the EU27, after -11.1% and -14.1% respectively in March. Civil engineering increased by 3.0% in the euro area and by 3.9% in the EU27, after +0.9% and -1.7% respectively in the previous month. (O.L./transl.fl)