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
| Sep 16, 2014
Ranked: Top hotel sector AEC firms [2014 Giants 300 Report]
Tutor Perini, Gensler, and AECOM top BD+C's rankings of design and construction firms with the most revenue from hospitality sector projects, as reported in the 2014 Giants 300 Report.
| Sep 16, 2014
Studies reveal growing demand for LEED-credentialed professionals across building sector
The study showed that demand for the LEED Accredited Professional and LEED Green Associate credentials grew 46 percent over a 12-month period.
| Sep 16, 2014
Shigeru Ban’s design wins Tainan Museum of Fine Arts competition
Pritzker Prize-winning architect Shigeru Ban has won an international competition organized by The Tainan Museum of Art in Taiwan. Ban's design features cascading volumes with an auditorium, classrooms, and exhibition galleries.
| Sep 16, 2014
Competition asks architects, designers to reimagine the future of national parks
National Parks Now asks entrants to propose all types of interventions for parks, including interactive installations, site-specific education and leisure opportunities, outreach and engagement campaigns, and self-led tours.
| Sep 15, 2014
Sustainability rating systems: Are they doomed?
None of the hundreds of existing green building rating systems is perfect. Some of them are too documentation-heavy. Some increase short-term project cost. Some aren’t rigorous enough or include contentious issues, writes HDR's Michaella Wittmann.
| Sep 15, 2014
Ranked: Top international AEC firms [2014 Giants 300 Report]
Parsons Brinckerhoff, Gensler, and Jacobs top BD+C's rankings of U.S.-based design and construction firms with the most revenue from international projects, as reported in the 2014 Giants 300 Report.
| Sep 15, 2014
Argentina reveals plans for Latin America’s tallest structure
Argentine President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner announces the winning design by MRA+A Álvarez | Bernabó | Sabatini for the capital's new miexed use tower.
| Sep 15, 2014
Perkins+Will unveils design for Ghana's largest hospital
The new hospital will be home to numerous hospital services including public health, accident and emergency, imaging, obstetrics, gynecology, dental, surgical, intensive care and administration.
| Sep 15, 2014
Gen-Y-focused multifamily development under way in L.A.
The new urban residential community at 1001 S. Olive Street will offer open floor plans consisting of 64 studios, 109 one bedroom units, and 28 two-bedroom units, ranging in size from approximately 500 sq ft to 1,100 sq ft.
| Sep 14, 2014
Ranked: Top Veterans Administration sector AEC firms [2014 Giants 300 Report]
CannonDesign, Clark Group, and URS top BD+C's rankings of the nation's largest Veterans Administration building sector design and construction firms, as reported in the 2014 Giants 300 Report.
