Total engineering and construction spending for the U.S. is forecast to rise 3% in 2019, according to FMI’s First Quarter 2019 North American Construction Outlook.
That represents a slight slowdown in industry growth compared to the 4% growth rate of 2018. Spending growth in 2019 is expected to be led by public investment across both non-residential buildings and non-residential structures.
Top-performing segments forecast in 2019 include transportation (up 9%), public safety (up 6%), educational (up 5%) and manufacturing (up 5%).
The bottom-performing segments in 2019 include religious (down 5%), multifamily (down 5%), and lodging (down 2%).
Key segments that were upgraded into the growth category going into 2019 include educational, manufacturing, and highway and street. Both lodging and multifamily were adjusted into the down category, with declines anticipated through the remainder of the year.
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