Modest Increase in Nonresidential Spending in April, says ABC

According to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data recently released, national nonresidential construction spending rose .3% in April, totaling $792.6 billion on a seasonally adjusted annualized basis, which is a 6.4% increase compared to the same time last year. While public nonresidential spending expanded 4.8% on a monthly basis and increased 15.4% since April 2018, private nonresidential spending fell 2.9% in April and is up just 0.6 % year-over-year. Among the 16 nonresidential construction spending categories, nine experienced an increase in monthly spending, with the largest increases registered in water supply (9.8%), highway and street … Read more

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Construction Spending Increases 1% from January to February

Construction spending increased by 1% from January to February, while construction employment increased compared to February 2018 levels in 275 out of 358 metro areas, according to an analysis of new government data by the Associated General Contractors. Association officials called on federal officials to support more career and technical education programs to prepare workers for in-demand careers like construction. “The spending increase in February follows an extremely strong 2.5% gain in January, which aligns with contractors’ reports that they were busy early in the year and expect to stay that way through 2019,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief … Read more

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Construction Spending Slips in December, Yearly Totals Increase in Most Segments

Construction spending declined by 0.6 percent from November to December but increased from a year earlier in most major categories, according to an analysis of new government data by the Associated General Contractors. The new spending data shows strong overall demand for construction services, but association officials cautioned that labor shortages could undermine continued growth for the industry. “This data shows moderate and balanced growth across residential, private nonresidential and public construction segments,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “That fits with what contractors say they expect for 2019, as the association’s survey in January revealed.” Construction spending totaled … Read more

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Construction Spending Extends Year-to-Date Gains in August, Contractors Struggle to Find Workers

Construction spending increased 0.1 percent from July to August and 5.3 percent for eight months of 2018 combined, with continued year-to-date gains for major public and private categories, according to an analysis of new government data by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said that these spending figures showed strong demand in construction across the country but that growth in the construction industry still depends on contractors’ ability to find sufficient qualified workers, urging public officials to step up support for career and technical education and to allow employment-based immigration. “Nearly all categories of construction spending continued to … Read more

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Construction Spending Extends Year-to-Date Gains in July in Most Public, Private Segments

Construction spending increased 0.1 percent from June to July and 5.2 percent for seven months of 2018 combined, with year-to-date growth for most major public and private categories, according to an analysis of new government data by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said sustained growth will depend in part on contractors’ ability to find increasingly scarce craft workers and urged public officials to step up support for career and technical education to prepare more students for construction careers. “It is striking how balanced the growth in construction spending has been so far this year,” said Ken Simonson, … Read more

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