Construction Spending Increases Between September 2016 and 2017
Overall construction spending increased between September 2016 and September 2017 as growing private-sector residential demand continues to offset annual declines in public-sector investments in infrastructure and other projects, according to an analysis of new government data by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials urged members of Congress and the Trump administration to include new funding for roads, bridges, clean water and other important infrastructure as part of any new tax reform measure.
"The ongoing economic expansion is a favorable sign for private residential and nonresidential construction," said Ken Simonson, the association's chief economist. "But lawmakers continue to underfund public investment."