WASHINGTON, June 1 — - U.S. construction spending recorded its biggest drop in a year in April as investment in both private and public projects fell, but a sharp upward revision to the prior month's data pointed to underlying strength.þþThe Commerce Department said on Thursday that construction spending tumbled 1.4 percent. Spending in March was revised to show it jumping 1.1 percent to a record $1.24 trillion.þþEconomists polled by Reuters had forecast construction spending increasing 0.5 percent in April after a previously reported 0.2 percent drop in March. Construction spending increased 6.7 percent from a year ago.þþIn April, private construction spending fell 0.7 percent, also the biggest decline in a year, after increasing 1.0 percent in March. Investment in private residential construction fell 0.7 percent after six straight monthly increases.þþSpending on private nonresidential structures decreased 0.6 percent in April to its lowest level in almost a year. It was the third straight monthly decline.þþInvestment in residential and nonresidential structures such as oil and gas wells was one of the economy's few bright spots in the first quarter. Gross domestic product increased at a 1.2 percent annualized rate in the first three months of the year.þþInvestment in public construction projects tumbled 3.7 percent in April, the biggest drop since July 2016, after increasing 1.6 percent in March.þþOutlays on state and local government construction projects dropped 3.5 percent in April, also the biggest drop in nine months, after advancing 1.4 percent in March.þþFederal government construction spending declined 5.7 percent to a nine-month low in April.þþ(Reporting by Lucia Mutikani; Editing by Paul Simao)
Source: NY Times
