Nonresidential construction spending fell by 2% on a monthly basis in June 2017, totaling $697 billion on a seasonally adjusted, annualized basis according to an analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data released today by Associated Builders and Contractors. June represents the first month during which spending has dipped below the $700 billion per year threshold since January 2016.
June’s weak construction spending report can be largely attributed to the public sector. Public nonresidential construction spending fell 5.4% for the month and 9.5% for the year, and all twelve public subsectors decreased for the month. Private nonresidential spending remained largely unchanged, increasing by 0.1% for the month and 1.1% for the year. April and May nonresidential spending figures were revised downward by 1.1% and 0.4%, respectively.
“Coming into the year, there were high hopes for infrastructure spending in America,” said ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu. “The notion was that after many years of a lack of attention to public works, newfound energy coming from Washington, D.C., would spur confidence in federal funding among state and local transportation directors as well among others who purchase construction services. Instead, public construction spending is on the decline in America. Categories including public safety and flood control have experienced dwindling support for investment, translating into a nine percent decline in public construction spending over the past twelve months.
“On the other hand, several private segments continue to manifest strength in terms of demand for construction services,” said Basu. “At the head of the class are office construction, driven by a combination of job growth among certain office-space-using categories as well as lofty valuations, and communications, which is being driven largely by enormous demand for data center capacity.
“While there are certainly some parts of the nation experiencing significant levels of public construction, those areas have increasingly become the exception as opposed to the rule,” said Basu. “The more general and pervasive strength is in private segments. Based on recent readings of the architecture billings index and other key leading indicators, commercial contractors are likely to remain busy for the foreseeable future. The outlook for construction firms engaged in public work remains unclear.”
Related Stories
Market Data | Jul 31, 2019
For the second quarter of 2019, the U.S. hotel construction pipeline continued its year-over-year growth spurt
The growth spurt continued even as business investment declined for the first time since 2016.
Market Data | Jul 23, 2019
Despite signals of impending declines, continued growth in nonresidential construction is expected through 2020
AIA’s latest Consensus Construction Forecast predicts growth.
Market Data | Jul 20, 2019
Construction costs continued to rise in second quarter
Labor availability is a big factor in that inflation, according to Rider Levett Bucknall report.
Market Data | Jul 18, 2019
Construction contractors remain confident as summer begins
Contractors were slightly less upbeat regarding profit margins and staffing levels compared to April.
Market Data | Jul 17, 2019
Design services demand stalled in June
Project inquiry gains hit a 10-year low.
Market Data | Jul 16, 2019
ABC’s Construction Backlog Indicator increases modestly in May
The Construction Backlog Indicator expanded to 8.9 months in May 2019.
K-12 Schools | Jul 15, 2019
Summer assignments: 2019 K-12 school construction costs
Using RSMeans data from Gordian, here are the most recent costs per square foot for K-12 school buildings in 10 cities across the U.S.
Market Data | Jul 12, 2019
Construction input prices plummet in June
This is the first time in nearly three years that input prices have fallen on a year-over-year basis.
Market Data | Jul 1, 2019
Nonresidential construction spending slips modestly in May
Among the 16 nonresidential construction spending categories tracked by the Census Bureau, five experienced increases in monthly spending.
Market Data | Jul 1, 2019
Almost 60% of the U.S. construction project pipeline value is concentrated in 10 major states
With a total of 1,302 projects worth $524.6 billion, California has both the largest number and value of projects in the U.S. construction project pipeline.
