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. 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.
These first estimates are released by Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Communities.

Monthly comparison
Among the Member States for which data are available for August 2007, 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, after -0.3% and -0.8% respectively in the previous month.

Annual comparison
Among the Member States for which data are available for August 2007, construction output rose in nine Member States and fell in four. The largest increases were recorded in Romania (+37.0%), Slovenia (+31.4%) and Poland (+14.8%). Decreases were recorded in Sweden (-3.2%), Germany (-3.0%), Portugal (-2.0%) and Slovakia (-1.4%).
Building construction rose by 2.4% in the euro area and by 3.7% in the EU27, after +1.6% and +0.3% respectively in July.