Construction spending rises in Europe

BRUSSELS, Sept. 19 (UPI) -- The European Union's statistical office Eurostat said construction spending rose 1.4 percent in the eurozone in July compared with June.

The eurozone designates the 17 member states that use the euro as currency. In the full European Union, comprised of 27 member states, construction rose by 0.43 percent month-to-month, Eurostat said.

From a year earlier, construction outlays rose by 1.2 percent in the eurozone and 0.2 percent in the 27-member European Union.

For the month, construction spending dropped most sharply in Britain, down 4.3 percent, followed by Sweden, where spending dropped 3.1 percent.

Construction spending rose 10.3 percent in Slovenia, followed by a 3.2 percent rise in Germany.