Construction output up by 1.6% in 2011’s second quarter

In the construction sector, seasonally adjusted production rose by 1.4% in the euro zone and by 0.3% in the European, Union in July 2011, compared with the previous month.

Malta’s own production rose by 1.6%, ahead of the Euro zone average. During the third and fourt quarter of 2010, Malta’s production inched ahead by 0.5%, while during the first six months of last year, Malta’s production increased by 1.5%.

In June, production decreased by 1.3% in the Euro zone and by 1.1% in the European Union.

Compared with July 2010, output in July 2011 increased by 1.2% in the Euro zone, and by 0.2% in the European Union.

These first estimates are released by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.

Among the Member States for which data are available for July 2011, construction output rose in Slovenia (+10.3%), Romania (+3.3%), Germany (+3.2%) and Poland (+1.2%), and fell in the other eight Member States. The largest decreases were registered in the United Kingdom (-4.3%), Sweden (-3.1%), Portugal (-2.8%) and the Czech Republic (-1.6%).

Building construction increased by 0.6% in the euro area, but decreased by 0.2% in the EU27, after -0.6% and ‑1.0% respectively in June. Civil engineering rose by 4.1% in the euro area and by 2.0% in the EU27, after ‑3.2% and -2.0% respectively in the previous month.

Annual comparison

Among the Member States for which data are available for July 2011, construction output rose in Poland (+17.4%), Romania (+14.4%), Spain (+12.5%) and Germany (+5.4%), and fell in the other nine Member States. The largest decreases were registered in Slovenia (-26.6%), Bulgaria (-13.3%), Portugal (-10.7%) and Sweden (-10.2%).

Building construction increased by 0.8% in the euro area, but decreased by 0.7% in the EU27, after -12.2% and ‑9.0% respectively in June. Civil engineering rose by 0.6% in the euro area and by 2.6% in the EU27, after ‑6.7% and -2.3% respectively in the previous month.