Construction Spending Reaches Highest Level Since December 2009

Construction spending in June rose to a 2-1/2 year high as double-digit percentage increases in private residential and nonresidential construction more than offset an ongoing downturn in public construction, according to an analysis of new federal data released today by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said they expect the disparity between private and public construction is likely to persist and urged policy makers to put more funding into infrastructure projects. “The June spending gains come on top of upward revisions to May and April totals, reinforcing the notion that private construction is now growing consistently,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “Even more encouraging, the improvement is showing up in a wide range of residential and nonresidential categories.” Read the full press release here. The news was covered by KHL Group, The Orange County Register, Memphis Business Journal, Finance & Commerce, Investor's Business Daily, and New Mexico Business Weekly, among others.