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 11, 2010
HGA wins 25-Year Award from AIA Minnesota
HGA Architects and Engineers won a 25-Year Award from AIA Minnesota for the Willow Lake Laboratory.
| Oct 11, 2010
MBMA Releases Fire Resistance Design Guide for metal building systems
The Metal Building Manufacturers Association (MBMA) announces the release of the 2010 Fire Resistance Design Guide for Metal Building Systems. The guide provides building owners, architects, engineers, specifiers, fire marshals, building code officials, contractors, product vendors, builders and metal building manufacturers information on how to effectively meet fire resistance requirements of a project with metal building systems.
| Oct 11, 2010
Rhode Island is the first state to adopt IGCC
Rhode Island is the first state to adopt the International Green Construction Code (IGCC). The Rhode Island Green Buildings Act identifies the IGCC as an equivalent standard in compliance with requirements that all public agency major facility projects be designed and constructed as green buildings. The Rules and Regulations to implement the Act take effect in October 2010.
| Oct 8, 2010
Union Bank’S San Diego HQ awarded LEED Gold
Union Bank’s San Diego headquarters building located at 530 B Street has been awarded LEED Gold certification from the Green Building Certification Institute under the standards established by the U.S. Green Building Council. Gold status was awarded to six buildings across the United States in the most recent certification and Union Bank’s San Diego headquarters building is one of only two in California.
| Oct 6, 2010
From grocery store to culinary school
A former West Philadelphia supermarket is moving up the food chain, transitioning from grocery store to the Center for Culinary Enterprise, a business culinary training school.