Investment in construction in Spain will remain negative in 2011

According to a study by the Department of Economics from Seopan from forecasts of the Community institution, generally speaking, the 2011 will bring to the European Union an investment growth of 0.2 per cent, something which is an improvement in the light of the setback of this yearthat round - 3.6%.

In the South of Europe, Italy is also alone, but for most flattering reasons than in the Irish case. It is the only country in the area with perspective of growth, with a tiny 0.1%, but that is an exception within the reduction tendency of neighbouring States, although it is expected a change compared to 2010. In all, Greece will experience the greatest improvement is expected that the current reduction of - 24.4% descend until - 8.9 per cent in 2011.

In particular, during 2010, Ireland has been the community partner where the more the volume of investment, has suffered up to - 28%, followed by Greece (- 24.4%), Romania (- 13%), Lithuania (- 13.3%), Cyprus (- 12.5%), Slovenia and Spain - 11 (4%), Netherlands (- 7.2%)Portugal (- 5%) and France (- 4.5%).

Not to mention the countries outside the euro area, Northern Europe is maintained with positive percentages, especially Luxembourg, with a 6.5% growth. They accompany Germany and Finland, with values above 3%. Outside the euro zone, Poland and United Kingdom remain a stable trend with increases of 4.1% and 2.1%, respectively.

Major increases in investment will with a view to 2011, be mainly in the countries of the East of the continent, located in Lithuania (13%) and Estonia (10%), Poland (8%), Hungary (2.6%), Romania (2.4%) and Slovenia (1.7%), precisely countries in the previous year with some of the most negative indexes in Europe.

For its part, the North and centre of the continent have a more varied picture. Always within positive parameters, light falls on 2010 can be seen in the investment of Germany (- 0.5%), Luxembourg (- 0.6%) and Sweden (- 0.7%), that contrast with the rise of United Kingdom (0.5%) and Finland (3.7%). The exception are Belgium, Denmark, France, Austria and Czech Republic, which started with declines in investment in construction in 2010 and showed more benevolent numbers next year. Thus, Ireland will act as the only country with negative values though, as in the case of Spain, the reduction is alleviated.

The forecasts of the European Commission also offer a first estimate of the investment landscape in 2012, in which growth will be timidly returning to positions in the States members with negative values. In Spain, for example, he is expected to stand at 0.7%, a figure optimistic bearing in mind the data accumulated since 2008.

Also, you will appreciate a stabilization in the pace of investments in the countries of the East, superior to the rest of the European partners, it will decline in comparison with forecasts for 2011. Ireland will be the only country of the North to present still cuts, although far from the numbers present (- 2.5%), while Greece, Cyprus and Portugal keep the negative trend, but with next to the Ireland values.

Spanish gross domestic product has been reduced in a - 0.2% during 2010, although the data makeup - 3.2 per cent in 2009. A breakthrough of private consumption (1.1%) and a decline in investment (- 7.9%), been involved in this slight increase associated with a step backwards in the residential investment (- 17.5%) and in other constructions (- 7.0%) and offset by an increase of 3% in capital equipment.

However, with a view to 2011, is estimated to return to positive data. In this way, is expected that the GDP increased 0.7% supported by private consumption (0.9%) and attenuation in the fall of investment in general (- 3.1%). This is a consequence of a slight rise of 3.7 per cent in equipment, the decline in residential investment, representing an improvement over 2010, with a 5.9 per cent and in other constructions (- 7.8%).