According to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data released today, national nonresidential construction spending rose 0.3% in April, totaling $792.6 billion on a seasonally adjusted annualized basis, which is a 6.4% increase compared to the same time last year. While public nonresidential spending expanded 4.8% on a monthly basis and increased 15.4% since April 2018, private nonresidential spending fell 2.9% in April and is up just 0.6 % year-over-year.
Among the 16 nonresidential construction spending categories, nine experienced an increase in monthly spending, with the largest increases registered in water supply (9.8%), highway and street (6.8%) and transportation (3.9%). Manufacturing (-7.1%) and commercial (-3.7%) experienced the largest decreases in April, though manufacturing spending is still up 10.9% compared to the same time last year.
“Today’s data release shows that nonresidential construction spending remains vigorous in America,” said ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu. “While April’s monthly nonresidential construction spending growth of 0.3 percent appears lackluster, this was largely the result of a sizeable upward revision to March construction spending figures.
“Today’s data release also indicates that the baton has now been fully passed,” said Basu. “Earlier in the recovery, nonresidential construction spending growth was primarily driven by private segments. Low interest rates and abundant liquidity helped fuel private investment in hotels, data centers, casinos, fulfillment centers and other forms of private construction. But over the past year, private nonresidential construction spending has barely budged. Meanwhile, public residential spending is up 15.4 percent and April’s spending growth was led by water supply and highway/street.
“Given current levels of backlog, which expanded to 9.5 months in March 2019, nonresidential construction spending should remain elevated,” said Basu. “That said, risks of recession in 2020 are rapidly rising, which has the potential to reduce construction activity in 2021 and/or 2022.”
Related Stories
Market Data | Apr 1, 2019
Nonresidential spending expands again in February
Private nonresidential spending fell 0.5% for the month and is only up 0.1% on a year-over-year basis.
Market Data | Mar 22, 2019
Construction contractors regain confidence in January 2019
Expectations for sales during the coming six-month period remained especially upbeat in January.
Market Data | Mar 21, 2019
Billings moderate in February following robust New Year
AIA’s Architecture Billings Index (ABI) score for February was 50.3, down from 55.3 in January.
Market Data | Mar 19, 2019
ABC’s Construction Backlog Indicator declines sharply in January 2019
The Construction Backlog Indicator contracted to 8.1 months during January 2019.
Market Data | Mar 15, 2019
2019 starts off with expansion in nonresidential spending
At a seasonally adjusted annualized rate, nonresidential spending totaled $762.5 billion for the month.
Market Data | Mar 14, 2019
Construction input prices rise for first time since October
Of the 11 construction subcategories, seven experienced price declines for the month.
Market Data | Mar 6, 2019
Global hotel construction pipeline hits record high at 2018 year-end
There are a record-high 6,352 hotel projects and 1.17 million rooms currently under construction worldwide.
Market Data | Feb 28, 2019
U.S. economic growth softens in final quarter of 2018
Year-over-year GDP growth was 3.1%, while average growth for 2018 was 2.9%.
Market Data | Feb 20, 2019
Strong start to 2019 for architecture billings
“The government shutdown affected architecture firms, but doesn’t appear to have created a slowdown in the profession,” said AIA Chief Economist Kermit Baker, Hon. AIA, PhD, in the latest ABI report.
Market Data | Feb 19, 2019
ABC Construction Backlog Indicator steady in Q4 2018
CBI reached a record high of 9.9 months in the second quarter of 2018 and averaged about 9.1 months throughout all four quarters of last year.