U.S. Construction Spending Falls on Weak Government Expenditures

Infrastructure, construction

U.S. construction spending unexpectedly fell in January as the biggest drop in public outlays since 2002 offset gains in investment in private projects, pointing to moderate economic growth in the first quarter.

The Commerce Department said on Wednesday that construction spending declined 1.0 percent to $1.18 trillion. Construction spending in December was revised to show a 0.1 percent increase rather than the previously reported 0.2 percent decline.

Economists polled by Reuters had forecast construction spending gaining 0.6 percent in January. Construction spending increased 3.1 percent from a year ago.

In January, public construction spending tumbled 5.0 percent, the largest drop since March 2002. That followed a 1.4 percent decline in December. Public construction spending has now decreased for three straight months.

Outlays on state and local government construction projects dropped 4.8 percent, also the biggest drop since March 2002. Spending on state and local government construction projects has dropped for three straight months.

Federal government construction spending plummeted 7.4 percent, the largest decline since May 2014. The drop snapped three consecutive months of gains.

Spending on private construction projects rose 0.2 percent in January, advancing for a fourth straight month. Spending on residential construction projects increased 0.5 percent to the highest level since August 2007.

Investment in private nonresidential structures was unchanged in January after two straight monthly increases.

(Reporting by Lucia Mutikani; Editing by Andrea Ricci)