U.S. construction spending jumps to near 6-1/2 year high

WASHINGTON, June 1 (Reuters) - U.S. construction spending surged in April to the highest level in nearly 6-1/2 years as outlays increased broadly, pointing to some pockets of strength in the economy.

Construction spending jumped 2.2 percent to an annual rate of $1.0 trillion, the highest level since November 2008, the Commerce Department said on Monday. The percent increase was the largest since May 2012.

March's outlays were revised to show a 0.5 percent increase instead of the previously reported 0.6 percent fall. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast construction spending rising 0.7 percent in April.

The report adds to business spending plans, employment and housing data in suggesting some momentum in the economy early in the second quarter even as consumer spending and industrial production have been soft.

The economy contracted at a 0.7 percent annual rate in the first quarter.

But with output held down by a confluence of temporary factors, including a problem with the model the government uses to smooth the data for seasonal fluctuations, the decline in gross domestic product likely overstates the economy's weakness.

In April, construction spending was buoyed by a 1.8 percent increase in private construction spending to the highest level since October 2008. Outlays on private residential construction rose 0.6 percent and spending on private non-residential construction projects jumped 3.1 percent to a six-year high.

Public construction outlays soared 3.3 percent as spending on state and local government projects - the largest portion of the public sector segment - offset a 3.6 percent decline in federal government outlays.

Spending on state and local government construction projects rose 3.9 percent to the highest level since October last year.

Source: Reuters