flexiblefullpage
billboard
interstitial1
catfish1
Currently Reading

Fall in US construction spending in May shows weakness of country’s construction industry, says GlobalData

Market Data

Fall in US construction spending in May shows weakness of country’s construction industry, says GlobalData

Dariana Tani, Economist at GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, offers her view on the situation.


By GlobalData | July 2, 2020

Courtesy Pixabay

Following the announcement by the US Bureau of Statistics that construction spending fell by 2.1% in May from a month earlier:

Dariana Tani, Economist at GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, offers her view on the situation:

“May’s construction spending data shows the ongoing weakness in the US construction industry amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Overall, construction spending was driven down by a decline in spending on private construction projects offsetting an increase in spending on public projects.

“GlobalData expects the US construction industry to contract by -6.5% in 2020 and -2% in 2021, down from the previous growth forecast of 0.6% and 1.4% before the COVID-19 pandemic started. Sectors such as commercial, residential and industrial are anticipated to be the hardest hit amid the collapse in business and consumer confidence, while sectors such as institutional and infrastructure will also be affected although to a lesser extent.

“As Congress and the White House contemplate the next phase of yet another unprecedented government response to limit the economic impact of the COVID-19 outbreak, Democrats and President Donald Trump are increasingly raising the prospects of passing a multi-trillion dollar infrastructure plan that could generate millions of jobs and stimulate the economy and the construction industry. However, key risks remain. With the number of new COVID-19 cases surging across the country, as many states are reopening their economies, the construction industry is expected to continue to decline over the coming months.

“A second wave in the second half of 2020 and the potential increase of caseloads in underserved communities could put at risk the recovery of the labor market and increase the risk that the pandemic could result in long-lasting damage to the economy as new lockdown restrictions will have to be put in place again. Furthermore, heightening political uncertainty over the upcoming presidential election, lower oil prices, and financial volatility are other factors that could undermine confidence.”

Related Stories

Market Data | Jan 23, 2019

Architecture billings slow, but close 2018 with growing demand

AIA’s Architecture Billings Index (ABI) score for December was 50.4 compared to 54.7 in November.

Market Data | Jan 16, 2019

AIA 2019 Consensus Forecast: Nonresidential construction spending to rise 4.4%

The education, public safety, and office sectors will lead the growth areas this year, but AIA's Kermit Baker offers a cautious outlook for 2020.

Market Data | Dec 19, 2018

Brokers look forward to a commercial real estate market that mirrors 2018’s solid results

Respondents to a recent Transwestern poll expect flat to modest growth for rents and investment in offices, MOBs, and industrial buildings.

Market Data | Dec 19, 2018

When it comes to economic clout, New York will far outpace other U.S. metros for decades to come

But San Jose, Calif., is expected to have the best annual growth rate through 2035, according to Oxford Economics’ latest Global Cities report.

Market Data | Dec 19, 2018

Run of positive billings continues at architecture firms

November marked the fourteenth consecutive month of increasing demand for architectural firm services.

Market Data | Dec 5, 2018

ABC predicts construction sector will remain strong in 2019

Job growth, high backlog and healthy infrastructure investment all spell good news for the industry.

Market Data | Dec 4, 2018

Nonresidential spending rises modestly in October

Thirteen out of 16 subsectors are associated with year-over-year increases.

Market Data | Nov 20, 2018

Construction employment rises from October 2017 to October 2018 in 44 states and D.C.

Texas has biggest annual job increase while New Jersey continues losses; Iowa, Florida and California have largest one-month gains as Mississippi and Louisiana trail.

Market Data | Nov 15, 2018

Architecture firm billings continue to slow, but remain positive in October

Southern region reports decline in billings for the first time since June 2012.

Market Data | Nov 14, 2018

A new Joint Center report finds aging Americans less prepared to afford housing

The study foresees a significant segment of seniors struggling to buy or rent on their own or with other people.

boombox1
boombox2
native1

More In Category


Contractors

Nonresidential construction spending decreased 0.2% in June

National nonresidential construction spending declined 0.2% in June, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data published today by the U.S. Census Bureau. On a seasonally adjusted annualized basis, nonresidential spending totaled $1.21 trillion. Nonresidential construction has expanded 5.3% from a year ago.



Construction Costs

Data center construction costs for 2024

Gordian’s data features more than 100 building models, including computer data centers. These localized models allow architects, engineers, and other preconstruction professionals to quickly and accurately create conceptual estimates for future builds. This table shows a five-year view of costs per square foot for one-story computer data centers. 

halfpage1

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021