The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Spending on projects in U.S. up 1.3 percent
Spending on U.S. construction projects in January posted the biggest gain in nine months, as strength in nonresidential construction and government projects offset continued weakness in home construction. The Commerce Department says construction spending rose 1.3 percent in January following two months of declines. It was the biggest gain since spending was up 1.7 percent in April.
The situation
Spending on residential projects fell 0.3 percent in January, the sixth consecutive monthly decline for a sector that was hurt last year by rising mortgage rates and higher home building costs.
Spending on nonresidential construction increased 0.8 percent in January with spending on office buildings, hotels and the category that covers shopping centers all showing gains.
January strength
Spending on government projects jumped 4.9 percent, the biggest increase since March 2004. The January strength reflected a 4.9 percent rise in spending on state and local building projects and a 4.2 percent rise in federal construction spending.
It pushed total public construction spending to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $313.6 billion, the highest level since September 2010. The 1.3 percent overall gain pushed total spending to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1.28 trillion.
1.3 percent
Rise in construction spending in January
0.3 percent
Fall in spending on residential projects in January
0.8 percent
Increase in spending on nonresidential construction in January
4.9 percent
Increase in spending on government projects in January, the biggest increase since March 2004
Growth
Economists believe growth has slowed further to around 1.5 percent in the current quarter as the U.S. economy feels the effects of a global slowdown.