European construction output still falling

The latest figures from Eurostat show that construction output in the EU fell -2,4% in May compared to a year ago. In the 16 country Euro zone, the drop in output was even greater with a -6,3% fall.

Of just four countries that saw growth when comparing May 2009 to May 2010, the UK showed the strongest performance with a +10% increase in output. The Netherlands recorded +5,7% growth followed by Germany (+3,8%) and Poland (+0,4%).

Six countries recorded double-digit declines in output led by Romania with a -20,2% fall. Other major fallers included Spain (-18,9%), Bulgaria (-16,6%), Slovenia (-16%) and Hungary and Slovakia (both falling -10,6%). All six countries also recorded falls in last month's Eurostat figures.

Other fallers were Portugal with a -6,9% decline followed by France (-5,6%), the Czech Republic (-1,9%) and Sweden (-1,2%).

Across the EU, building construction fell -2,2%, while in the Euro zone the fall was an even greater -5,3 %. Civil engineering output also fell across the EU and in the Euro zone by -1,5% and -9,9% respectively.

When comparing construction output from April to May this year, the Czech Republic recorded the largest increase with +7,2% growth. Other nations to record positive month-to-month growth included Poland and the Netherlands with a 3,7% increase in output, followed by the UK (+2,7%) and Bulgaria and Hungary (both +0,9%).

The biggest faller between April and May was Romania with a -6,6% decline in output. Other month-to-month fallers included Slovakia (-5,6%), Germany (-2,3%), Slovenia (-1,6%), Sweden (-1,1%) and Portugal and Spain (both -1%).

April to May building output fell in the EU and the Euro zone by -0,5% and -1% respectively, while civil engineering saw greater falls of -1,1% in the EU and -3,2% in the 16 country Euro zone.