The U.S. economy’s performance slowed in the first quarter of 2017, but nonresidential fixed investment expanded at an impressive 9.4 percent seasonally adjusted annual rate, according to analysis of U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis data recently released by Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC).
Real gross domestic product (GDP) expanded 0.7 percent on a seasonally adjusted annualized rate during the first three months of the year. Despite the subdued growth, GDP has now expanded in every quarter over the past three years. Fourth quarter 2016 growth was revised upward from a 1.9 percent annual rate of expansion to a 2.1 percent annual rate.
This represents the best quarter for nonresidential fixed investment, a category closely aligned with construction and other forms of business investment, since the end of 2013 and ends more than a year of tepid nonresidential fixed investment growth. Investment in structures, a subcomponent of nonresidential fixed investment, expanded 22.1 percent for the quarter after contracting by 1.9 percent in the fourth quarter of 2016. The other two subcomponents of nonresidential fixed investment—equipment and intellectual property products—expanded at a 9.1 percent rate and a 2.0 percent rate, respectively.
“It was expected that first quarter GDP would indicate that the U.S. economy remained unable to generate a high rate of growth,” said ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu in a release. “Many economic actors appear to have adopted a cautious attitude in an environment characterized by a considerable amount of policy uncertainty. The decline in defense expenditures is likely to be a surprise to many given recent discussions about supposed vast increases in defense outlays.
“The investment in nonresidential structures during the first three months of the year is particularly remarkable in an environment otherwise characterized as generating little economic growth,” said Basu. “Rather than adopt a wait-and-see attitude, developers appear to have acted with conviction, taking advantage of growing confidence among investors and other market participants to forge ahead with planned projects. While the new presidential administration has yet to implement even a small fraction of its pro-business agenda, the development community continues to express confidence in the administration’s ability to create the conditions necessary for a much more vibrant U.S. economy.
“The expectation is that the balance of the year will be associated with much more rapid growth,” said Basu. “Consumer spending should pick up after a weak first quarter, given accelerating wage increases and elevated levels of job security. Business spending is also likely to expand briskly, particularly if the Trump administration is able to make meaningful progress on the corporate and personal income tax front.”
Related Stories
Market Data | Mar 17, 2020
Construction spending to grow modestly in 2020, predicts JLL’s annual outlook
But the coronavirus has made economic forecasting perilous.
Market Data | Mar 16, 2020
Grumman/Butkus Associates publishes 2019 edition of Hospital Benchmarking Survey
Report examines electricity, fossil fuel, water/sewer, and carbon footprint.
Market Data | Mar 12, 2020
New study from FMI and Autodesk finds construction organizations with the highest levels of trust perform twice as well on crucial business metrics
Higher levels of trust within organizations and across project teams correlate with increased profit margins, employee retention and repeat business that can all add up to millions of dollars of profitability annually.
Market Data | Mar 11, 2020
The global hotel construction pipeline hits record high at 2019 year-end
Projects currently under construction stand at a record 991 projects with 224,354 rooms.
Market Data | Mar 6, 2020
Construction employment increases by 43,000 in February and 223,000 over 12 months
Average hourly earnings in construction top private sector average by 9.9% as construction firms continue to boost pay and benefits in effort to attract and retain qualified hourly craft workers.
Market Data | Mar 4, 2020
Nonresidential construction spending attains all-time high in January
Private nonresidential spending rose 0.8% on a monthly basis and is up 0.5% compared to the same time last year.
Market Data | Feb 21, 2020
Construction contractor confidence remains steady
70% of contractors expect their sales to increase over the first half of 2020.
Market Data | Feb 20, 2020
U.S. multifamily market gains despite seasonal lull
The economy’s steady growth buoys prospects for continued strong performance.
Market Data | Feb 19, 2020
Architecture billings continue growth into 2020
Demand for design services increases across all building sectors.
Market Data | Feb 5, 2020
Construction employment increases in 211 out of 358 metro areas from December 2018 to 2019
Dallas-Plano-Irving, Texas and Kansas City have largest gains; New York City and Fairbanks, Alaska lag the most as labor shortages likely kept firms in many areas from adding even more workers.