Today's Census Bureau release regarding nonresidential construction spending did not just offer good news about April, it also supplied upwardly revised spending data for both February and March.
Nonresidential spending expanded 3.2% on a monthly basis in April, and spending totaled $646.7 billion on a seasonally adjusted, annualized basis, according to the government's initial estimate. Nonresidential construction is up by a solid 8.8% over the past year, consistent with ABC's forecast of high single-digit growth.
The Census Bureau also revised March's nonresidential spending figure from $611.8 billion to $626.7 billion, and February's figure from $613.1 billion to $618.4 billion. Initial estimates suggested that nonresidential construction was sagging during the early months of the year; however, the new data indicate spending has expanded during each of the previous three months.
"There is a considerable amount of financial capital available to move construction projects forward and low interest rates certainly help. While the availability of substantial financial capital may eventually produce over-built private construction markets, for now the expectation is that progress will continue." —Anirban Basu, ABC Chief Economist
"The upbeat assessment of nonresidential construction in April has been rendered more meaningful by the upward revisions for prior months," said ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu. "The presumption had been that nonresidential spending construction data would improve as we approached the summer, and the outlook ahead remains solid.
"There is a considerable amount of financial capital available to move construction projects forward and low interest rates certainly help," added Basu. "While the availability of substantial financial capital may eventually produce over-built private construction markets, for now the expectation is that progress will continue."
All but one nonresidential construction sector experienced spending increases in April:
• Manufacturing-related construction spending expanded 2.6% in April and is up a whopping 52.9% on a yearly basis.
• Office-related construction spending expanded 3.7% in April and is up 8.8% compared to the same time one year ago.
• Construction spending in the transportation category grew 1.6% on a monthly basis and has expanded 11.6% on an annual basis.
• Lodging-related construction spending was up 5.5% on a monthly basis and 17.6% on a year-over-year basis.
• Health care-related construction spending expanded 2.1% for the month and is up 2.6% compared to the same time last year.
• Spending in the water supply category expanded 0.7% from March and is up 0.8% on an annual basis.
• Public safety-related construction spending gained 2.3% on a monthly basis, but is down 5.6% on a year-over-year basis.
• Commercial construction spending expanded 2.7% in April and is up 17.5% on a year-over-year basis.
• Religious spending gained 3.3% for the month, but is down 7.8% compared to the same time last year.
• Sewage and waste disposal-related construction spending gained 0.5% for the month and has grown 14.9% on a 12-month basis.
• Power-related construction spending grew 2.5% for the month, but is 11.3% lower than the same time one year ago.
• Highway and street-related construction spending expanded 8.5% in April and is up 4.8% compared to the same time last year.<
• Conservation and development-related construction spending grew 3.7% for the month and is up 17.2% on a yearly basis.
• Amusement and recreation-related construction spending improved 2.5% on a monthly basis and is up 23.3% from the same time last year.
• Education-related construction spending gained 3.2% for the month and is up 0.4% on a year-over-year basis.
Spending declined in only one nonresidential construction subsector in April:
• Communication-related construction spending fell 5.9% for the month and is down 5.5% for the year.
To view the previous spending report, click here.
Related Stories
| Oct 2, 2012
Mirvish and Gehry unveil conceptual design to transform Toronto’s entertainment district
Reimagining of King Street Entertainment District supports Toronto’s cultural corridor.
| Oct 2, 2012
Dow Business Services Center building named 2012 “America’s Best Buildings of the Year” winner
Building constructed with air sealing and insulation products from Dow Building Solutions.
| Oct 2, 2012
Bernards working on project at L.A. White Memorial Medical Center
The new facility is a $15-million, 41,000-sf concrete structure which includes three stories of medical office space atop a three-level parking garage.
| Oct 1, 2012
Tyco completes separation process, now largest pure-play fire protection and security business
Tyco Integrated Security focused on delivering security solutions to commercial businesses.
| Sep 28, 2012
Seattle is home to first LEED-certified modular radiation center
By using modular construction and strategic site design, RAD Medical Systems built the first radiation center to receive LEED certification.
| Sep 26, 2012
EDITORIAL OPPORTUNITY – BD+C Greenbuild 2012 Issue
Your firm is invited to contribute to this special issue, which will be distributed at Greenbuild San Francisco, Nov. 14-16, 2012.
| Sep 24, 2012
Reed Construction completes Lafarge headquarters in Chicago
Reed Construction was contracted to complete the full third floor build-out which included the construction of new open area work space, private offices, four conference rooms with videoconferencing capabilities and an executive conference boardroom.
| Sep 24, 2012
Chicago Lakeside shortlisted for the Sustainia Award
The “Lakeside Idea” is about bridging a brownfield industrial past to a green lifestyle future, from steel mill to innovation mill.
| Sep 24, 2012
$3.8-million athletic field and track opens in Glen Head, N.Y.
The complex also includes a new, one-story, multi-purpose building that serves as the main entry port to the athletic facilities.
| Sep 21, 2012
AAMA and WDMA release updated review and forecast that predicts industry trends
Significant volume is expected to return to the entry and interior door market as new construction demand is expected to grow at double-digit rates, outpacing remodeling and replacement activity as the housing market recovers.