Construction Spending in August is Unknown due to Federal Government Shutdown, Industry Recovery Threatened

Total construction spending hit an unknown level in August because the Census Bureau was unable to release new data as a result of the federal government shutdown according to AGC of America. Association officials cautioned that the impacts of the shutdown will go beyond data as solicitations for many new construction projects come to a halt. “It is hard to get a sense of where the industry is heading when basic construction spending data isn't available,” said Ken Simonson, the association's chief economist. “Unfortunately, the lack of federal spending data likely foreshadows a decline in federal construction spending until the government reopens.” Read the full release here.