Production in the construction sector down by 0.8% in euro-zone

Down by 0.2% in EU15

Seasonally adjusted production in the construction sector decreased by 0.8% in the euro-zone and by 0.2% in the EU15 in the third quarter of 2002, compared to the second quarter of 2002, Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Communities in Luxembourg, estimates today.

This was the third consecutive quarter that production in the construction sector decreased in both the euro-zone and EU15: -1.5% and -1.0% respectively in the second quarter after -0.6% and -0.3% in the first quarter 2002.

On a yearly basis, output decreased in the third quarter of 2002 by 2.9% in the euro-zone and by 1.1% in the EU15 after decreases of 1.8% and 0.7%, respectively, in the second quarter of 2002.

Quarterly comparison
Among the Member States for which data were available, the only increase for total construction in the third quarter 2002 was observed in the United Kingdom (1.8%), while Denmark (-3.9%), Belgium and Austria (-3.5% for both) recorded the highest decreases.

The building and civil engineering sectors registered decreases for both zones in the third quarter of 2002: -0.8% and -0.1% respectively for the euro-zone and EU15 in building construction, and -0.6% in both zones in the civil engineering branch.

Annual comparison
Among the Member States for which data were available, the only annual increases in the third quarter of 2002 were recorded in the United Kingdom (8.1%), Spain (1.6%) and Finland (0.6%). Germany (-7.8%), Austria (-4.0%) and Luxembourg (-3.9%) registered the most significant decreases.

The index for building construction decreased by 3.2% in the euro-zone and by 1.2% in the EU15 after falls of 2.3% and 1.2%, respectively, in the second quarter of 2002. Civil engineering decreased by 2.2% in the euro-zone and by 0.5% in the EU15, after a fall of 0.8% in the euro-zone and an increase of 1.1% in the EU15, in the previous quarter.

(source: Eurostat)

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