Major Categories Post
Year-over-Year Increases, Led by Leaps in Multifamily, Power and Office
Construction; Association Officials Warn Highway Spending Could Dive Unless
Trust Fund Receives Immediate Aid
Total construction spending
edged higher for the third straight month in May, as solid increases in private
nonresidential and public construction outweighed a downturn in residential
projects, according to an analysis of new Census Bureau data by the Associated
General Contractors of America (AGC). Association officials cautioned that the
pickup in highway spending is in jeopardy of reversing sharply unless policy
makers act urgently to shore up the federal Highway Trust Fund.
"The May figures show
that construction activity continues to expand, but with lots of variability by
month and project type," said Ken Simonson, the association's chief
economist. "These uneven patterns seem likely to continue for the rest of
the year."
Construction put in place
totaled $956 billion in May, 0.1 percent above the upwardly revised April total
and 6.6 percent higher than in May 2013. For the first five months of 2014,
total spending rose 8.2 percent from the January-May 2013 total.
Private residential
construction spending in May retreated 1.5 percent from April, when
homebuilders may have put in extra hours to make up for adverse winter weather
in many regions. The May total was 7.5 percent above the May 2013 level,
representing an 11 percent increase in single-family spending, 31 percent for
multifamily and a 2.4 percent decline in improvements to existing housing.
Private nonresidential
spending rose 1.1 percent in May and 11 percent over 12 months. The largest
private segment, power construction - comprising work on oil and gas fields and
pipelines as well as electricity projects - rebounded 4.3 percent from a sharp
drop in April and was up 30 percent year-over-year. Among other major private
nonresidential segments, commercial construction - retail, warehouse and farm
projects - climbed 6.5 percent over 12 months; manufacturing construction rose
6.7 percent; and office work jumped 23 percent.
Public construction spending
rose 1.0 percent for the month and 1.2 percent year-over-year. The largest
public segment, highway and street construction, expanded 2.3 percent from a
year before. The second-biggest category, educational construction, gained 1.7
percent since May 2013.
"The outlook is
brightest for multifamily and oil and gas-related projects, including
manufacturing." Simonson commented. "But single-family and office
construction, which have done well so far, may fade later this year."
Association officials said
the increase in highway and street construction will do a U-turn if Congress
and the administration fail to act soon to replenish the Federal Highway Trust
Fund. Current estimates indicate the federal government will have difficulty
reimbursing states for payments to highway contractors later this month, a
development that could lead to project delays and reduced construction
employment.
"Stabilizing the Highway
Trust Fund should be lawmakers' top priority when they return from recess early
next week," said Stephen E. Sandherr, the association's chief executive
officer. "Construction firms, their suppliers and highway users should not
be held hostage to political posturing."
Source: AGC
of America
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