US Construction Activity Rises Again
Announcement posted by DesignBuild Source 31 Jul 2012
The overall value of construction activity throughout theUnited Statesgrew handsomely in the second quarter, albeit at a slower pace when compared with the first quarter.
The most recent figures from the United States Department of Commerce show that in the three months to June, the seasonally adjusted value of investment in residential fixed structures throughout the US rose by 9.7 per cent while investment in non-residential structures was up 5.3 per cent.
Despite the apparent strength implied by the figures, however, Associated Builders and Contractors chief economist Anirban Basu has issued a surprisingly downbeat assessment of the state of the sector, especially when it comes to non-residentialconstruction.
Basu says a number of factors were behind what he calls a ‘slump’ in the domestic economy and the non-residential construction industry.
“The slump continues as both the U.S. economy and [growth in] non-residential construction slowed during the second quarter of the year,” the chief economist says. “There are a number factors to point your finger at, including .....