Nonresidential Construction Spending Down in September, August Data Upwardly Revised

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Nonresidential construction spending fell 0.9 percent from August to September 2016, according to an analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data released by Associated Builders and Contractors. Nonresidential spending totaled $690.5 billion on a seasonally adjusted, annualized basis for the month, 0.7 percent below September 2015’s figure. The government revised the August nonresidential construction spending estimate from $686.6 billion to $696.6 billion; otherwise September spending would have risen on a month-over-month basis. Eleven of 16 nonresidential construction subsectors experienced monthly declines. “Since late 2015, the level of nonresidential construction spending in America has been effectively flat,” said ABC … Read more

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Nonresidential Fixed Investment Expands Again During Solid Third Quarter, ABC Reports

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Real gross domestic product expanded 2.9 percent on a seasonally adjusted annualized rate during the third quarter of 2016, according to an analysis of Bureau of Economic Analysis data recently released by Associated Builders and Contractors. This follows a 1.4 percent increase during the second quarter and represents the tenth consecutive quarter of economic expansion. Nonresidential fixed investment, a category closely aligned with construction and other forms of business investment, expanded at a 1.2 percent annualized rate during the third quarter after growing 1 percent during the second. Investment in structures led the way, increasing by 5.4 … Read more

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Contractor Confidence Dips in First Half of 2016

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – The average contractor is less confident regarding business prospects for the next six months, but the nonresidential construction recovery is anticipated to remain in place, according to the Associated Builders and Contractors Construction Confidence Index released recently. The diffusion index measures forward-looking construction industry expectations in sales, profit margins and staffing levels, with readings above 50 indicating growth. According to the most recent survey, during the first half of 2016: Sales expectations fell from 67.0 to 64.1 Profit margin expectations fell from 62.8 to 61.1 Staffing level intentions rose from 63.9 to 64.9 Although two indices fell, … Read more

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Construction Input Prices Begin to Trend Higher, ABC Reports

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Both nonresidential and overall construction input prices increased in September, with natural gas and crude petroleum prices bouncing back, according to analysis of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Producer Price Index released by Associated Builders and Contractors. The BLS data show that nonresidential input prices expanded 0.3 percent on a monthly basis in September, and overall construction prices also rose 0.3 percent on a monthly basis after declining 0.2 percent in August. It is important to note that nonresidential input construction prices are now higher on a year-over-year basis for the first time since November 2014. … Read more

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Nonresidential Spending Slips in August

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Nonresidential construction spending fell for a second consecutive month in August, according to a recent analysis of U.S. Census Bureau released by Associated Builders and Contractors. Nonresidential spending totaled $686.6 billion on a seasonally adjusted, annualized basis for the month, 1.1 percent lower than July’s total of $694.1 billion (revised down from $701 billion) and 1.3 percent below August 2015’s figure. Private nonresidential construction spending fell just 0.4 percent for the month, while its public sector counterpart shrank 2 percent. Four of the five largest nonresidential subsectors—power, highway and street, commercial and manufacturing—combined to fall 2.2 percent … Read more

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