Spending by U.S. businesses on new and used structures and equipment rose 4.5%, from $1.42 billion in 2012 to $1.49 billion in 2013, according to the latest economic data released today by the U.S. Census Bureau.
These findings come from the 2013 Annual Capital Expenditures Survey, which provides statistics on capital spending for new and used structures and equipment by U.S. non-farm businesses with and without paid employees. This survey, conducted annually since 1994, is an integral part of the federal government’s effort to improve and supplement ongoing statistical economic programs.
Highlights:
• Investments for new and used structures totaled $577.9 billion in 2013. The vast majority of this amount, $545.0 billion (94.3%), was spent on new structures. Expenditures for used structures totaled $33.0 billion (5.7%) in 2013.
• Investments in new and used equipment totaled $910.3 billion in 2013, up $57.0 billion (6.7%) from $853.2 billion in 2012. The majority of this amount (94.1%) was for new equipment, which totaled $856.7 billion in 2013, an increase of $56.5 billion (7.1%) from $800.2 billion in 2012. Expenditures for used equipment (5.9% of the amount) totaled $53.5 billion in 2013.
• Companies with employees accounted for $1.4 trillion (93.9%) of total capital spending in 2013.
• Of the 19 North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) major industry sectors covered in this report, only one sector had a statistically significant year-to-year decrease in capital spending: The utilities sector (NAICS 22) showed a decrease of 10.6%, from $125.0 billion in 2012 to $111.7 billion in 2013. Eight sectors had a statistically significant increase in capital spending and ten showed no statistically significant change during this period.
Related Stories
| Dec 19, 2013
Urban populations, climate change demand resilient design: Report
With over fifty percent of the population already living in urban areas, cities must grapple with the potentially catastrophic effects of climate change (think: Superstorm Sandy in New York). In a new report, Jones Lang LaSalle has identified steps cities can take to make their infrastructure more resilient to changing climate conditions.
| Dec 18, 2013
Architecture Billings Index takes step back in November
After six months of steadily increasing demand for design services, the Architecture Billings Index paused in November, dipping below 50 for just the second time in 2013.
| Dec 17, 2013
NREL, National Trust offer energy roadmap for small buildings and small portfolios
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory and the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Preservation Green Lab initiative have released the report “Industry Research and Recommendations for Small Buildings and Small Portfolios,” analyzing untapped opportunities in energy savings.
| Dec 17, 2013
Nation's largest net-zero K-12 school among winners of 2013 Best of Green Schools award
The Lady Bird Johnson Middle School in Irving, Texas, was named a winner of USGBC's annual award, along with nine other schools, individuals and communities working toward the common goal of healthy, high-performing learning places.
| Dec 17, 2013
IBM's five tech-driven innovation predictions for the next five years [infographics]
Smart classrooms, DNA-based medical care, and wired cities are among the technology-related innovations identified by IBM researchers for the company's 5 in 5 report.
| Dec 16, 2013
Is the metal building industry in a technology shift?
Automation is the future you can’t avoid, though you may try. Even within the metal building industry—which is made up of skilled tradesmen—automation has revolutionized, and will continue revolutionizing, how we work.
| Dec 16, 2013
Why employees don’t trust their leaders
Trust, one of the key elements to productive business relationships, is in short supply these days. An Associated Press-GfK poll discovered that only one-third of Americans say most people can be trusted and nearly two-thirds says “you can’t be too careful” in dealing with people.
| Dec 16, 2013
Construction materials prices remain stable in November
Overall, construction materials prices fell 0.5 percent in November and are up only 1.1 percent year over year, according to the Department of Labor’s Dec. 13 Producer Price Index.
| Dec 13, 2013
Safe and sound: 10 solutions for fire and life safety
From a dual fire-CO detector to an aspiration-sensing fire alarm, BD+C editors present a roundup of new fire and life safety products and technologies.
| Dec 13, 2013
AIA, MIT issue joint report on impact of design on public health
The research looks at the health of eight U.S. cities and lays out a path for translating the research into meaningful findings for policy makers and urban planners.