WASHINGTON - “Total construction spending inched up in
April, as nonresidential outlays shook off the plunge in homebuilding and
sluggishness in gross domestic product (GDP),” said Ken Simonson, chief
economist for the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC). Simonson was
commenting on the May 31 construction spending and GDP reports from the
Commerce Department.
“Total construction spending eked out a gain of 0.1 percent
in April, seasonally adjusted, but fell 2.5 percent for the first four months
of 2007 compared to the same period in 2006,” Simonson observed. Over both
periods there was a nearly symmetrical split between residential and
nonresidential spending. The former fell 0.9 percent for the month and 15
percent year-to-date, while the latter rose 1.1 percent in April and 14 percent
year-to-date.
“Even though GDP grew only 0.6 percent net of inflation in
the first quarter, many nonresidential construction categories are catching up
from past inactivity or building for the long term. For instance, construction
of hotels and resorts, which nearly stopped early in the decade, jumped 4.5
percent in April and 56 percent in the first four months of 2007 combined.
According to Simonson, private residential spending figures
were universally negative in April. He also reported that single-family
construction ticked down less than 0.1 percent for the month but was 27 percent
lower over the first four months of the year than in the same period of 2006.
Multifamily construction was down 1.8 percent in April,
although the year-to-date figure is still up by 1.2 percent. Residential
improvements, which the Commerce Department does not break out monthly, slipped
2.5 percent for the month, although it’s up 15 percent year-to-date. “I’m
afraid multifamily will continue to weaken,” Simonson warned, “and
single-family won’t improve until 2008.”
For more information, visit www.agc.org.
Publication
date:06/18/2007
