Construction spending during March 2020 was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1,360.5 billion, 0.9 percent above the revised February estimate of $1,348.4 billion. The March figure is also 4.7 percent above the March 2019 estimate of $1,299.1 billion. The surprising figures might be explained by the fact much of the spending had already been committed to before the shutdowns began to take full effect. During the first three months of this year, construction spending amounted to $297.0 billion, 6.7 percent above the $278.5 billion for the same period in 2019.

PRIVATE CONSTRUCTION:
Private Construction Spending on private construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1,012.5 billion, 0.7 percent above the revised February estimate of $1,005.8 billion. Residential construction experienced the most volatility at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $550.3 billion in March, 2.3 percent above the revised February estimate of $537.7 billion. Nonresidential construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $462.3 billion in March, 1.3 percent below the revised February estimate of $468.2 billion. 

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In response the extremely fluid and every changing business landscape caused by the COVID-19 (Wuhan virus) pandemic and the ensuing economic shutdowns, CIRT instituted in conjunction with FMI a series of “Bi-Weekly” surveying instruments.  The purpose of these questionnaires is to gather “real time” data which can form the basis of informed decision-making by fellow CIRT members to address the challenges faced in these times.  Feedback is aggregated and confidential, but still provides clear trends and highlights approaches being pursued across the peer membership of CIRT.  In addition to the “current issue” matters addressed by CIRT’s “Bi-Weekly” instruments (SEE page 3 of the report), FMI has joined the effort by updating the quarterly Outlook with vital economic and market indices with the latest information.

NOTE:  CIRT members were questioned regarding observed changes in demand for design and construction services since March 1, 2020.

REMINDER:  The second "Bi-Weekly" Survey is out now for response.  Please be sure to provide your feedback to the current survey.  Thank you.

Total construction spending during February 2020, announced by the U.S. Census Bureau, was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1,366.7 billion, 1.3 percent below the revised January estimate of $1,384.5 billion. The February figure is 6.0 percent above the February 2019 estimate of $1,289.0 billion. During the first two months of this year, construction spending amounted to $193.5 billion, 8.2 percent above the $178.8 billion for the same period in 2019.  These figures will likely form the base-line of where the markets stood BEFORE the national/worldwide COVID-19 (Wuhan Virus) took down economic activities in the fight to slow/stop the spread of the illness.

PRIVATE CONSTRUCTION:
Private construction spending was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1,025.8 billion, 1.2 percent below the revised January estimate of $1,038.5 billion. Residential construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $564.3 billion in February, 0.6 percent below the revised January estimate of $567.6 billion. Nonresidential construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $461.5 billion in February, 2.0 percent below the revised January estimate of $471.0 billion.

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FMI has just released their industry study focused on leadership and strategy in bull and bear markets.

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The U.S. Census Bureau announced the following value put in place construction statistics for January 2020: Total Construction spending during January 2020 was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1,369.2 billion, 1.8 percent above the revised December estimate of $1,345.5 billion. The January figure is 6.8 percent above the January 2019 estimate of $1,282.5 billion. 

PRIVATE CONSTRUCTION:
Private Construction Spending on private construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1,022.7 billion, 1.5 percent above the revised December estimate of $1,007.6 billion. Residential construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $554.8 billion in January, 2.1 percent above the revised December estimate of $543.6 billion. Nonresidential construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $468.0 billion in January, 0.8 percent above the revised December estimate of $464.1 billion. 

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The first quarter of 2020 showed an increase in both the CIRT Sentiment Index and Design Index. The CIRT Sentiment Index grew from 57.6 in the fourth quarter of 2019 to 63.6 in the first quarter of 2020. Higher index scores suggest broadened optimism across participating firms going into 2020. This quarter’s current issues questions polled CIRT membership on a variety of key internal metrics, including backlogs, firm capacity and hiring goals. The survey also captured open responses on challenges facing each company in 2020.

Read the full report here.

The U.S. Census Bureau announced the following value put in place construction statistics for December 2019: Construction spending during December 2019 was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1,327.7 billion, 0.2 percent below the “revised” November estimate of $1,329.9 billion. The December figure is 5.0 percent above the December 2018 estimate of $1,264.8 billion. The value of construction in 2019 was $1,303.5 billion, 0.3 percent below the $1,307.2 billion spent in 2018.  For the year, “public” construction spending actually finished over seven percent higher than in 2018; at the same time nonresidential came in at virtually the same level, while residential finished almost five percent lower.

PRIVATE CONSTRUCTION:
Private Construction Spending on private construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $991.2 billion, 0.1 percent below the revised November estimate of $992.2 billion. Residential construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $540.7 billion in December, 1.4 percent  above the revised November estimate of $533.3 billion. Nonresidential construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $450.5 billion in December, 1.8 percent below the revised November estimate of $458.9 billion. The value of private construction in 2019 was $974.7 billion, 2.5 percent below the $1,000.2 billion spent in 2018. Residential construction in 2019 was $514.3 billion, 4.7 percent below the 2018 figure of $539.6 billion and nonresidential construction was $460.4 billion, virtually unchanged from $460.5 billion in 2018.

PUBLIC CONSTRUCTION:
In December, the estimated seasonally adjusted annual rate of public construction spending was $336.4 billion, 0.4 percent below the revised November estimate of $337.7 billion. Educational construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $80.4 billion, 2.1 percent below the revised November estimate of $82.1 billion. Highway construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $99.9 billion, 3.1 percent above the revised November estimate of $96.9 billion. The value of public construction in 2019 was $328.8 billion, 7.1 percent above the $307.1 billion spent in 2018. Educational construction in 2019 was $79.0 billion, 3.4 percent above the 2018 figure of $76.4 billion and highway construction was $98.8 billion, 8.8 percent above the $90.8 billion in 2018.

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Construction spending during November 2019 was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1,324.1 billion, 0.6 percent above the heavily upward revised October estimate of $1,316.8 billion. The November figure is 4.1 percent above the November 2018 estimate of $1,271.4 billion. Virtually all of the growth in the November figures can be accounted for by the expansion in residential spending. During the first eleven months of this year, construction spending amounted to $1,201.6 billion, is only 0.8 percent below the $1,211.8 billion for the same period in 2018. 

PRIVATE CONSTRUCTION:
Private Construction Spending on private construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $985.5 billion, 0.4 percent above the revised October estimate of $981.1 billion. Residential construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $536.1 billion in November, 1.9 percent  above the revised October estimate of $526.3 billion. Nonresidential construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $449.4 billion in November, 1.2 percent below the revised October estimate of $454.7 billion.

PUBLIC CONSTRUCTION:
Public Construction In November, the estimated seasonally adjusted annual rate of public construction spending was $338.6 billion, 0.9 percent above the revised October estimate of $335.7 billion. Educational construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $83.9 billion, virtually unchanged from the revised October estimate of $84.0 billion. Highway construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $96.4 billion, 2.2 percent above the revised October estimate of $94.3 billion.

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Construction spending during October 2019 was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1,291.1 billion, 0.8 percent below the revised September estimate of $1,301.8 billion. Most of the slowdown in October occurred in the private sector markets vs. the public sector where the start of the federal government’s new fiscal year buoyed the numbers. However, the 2019 October figure is 1.1 percent above the October 2018 estimate of $1,277.4 billion.  During the first ten months of this year, construction spending amounted to $1,086.5 billion, 1.7 percent below the $1,105.2 billion for the same period in 2018. 

PRIVATE CONSTRUCTION:
Private Construction Spending on private construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $956.3 billion, 1.0 percent below the revised September estimate of $966.1 billion. Residential construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $508.2 billion in October, 0.9 percent  below the revised September estimate of $512.6 billion. Nonresidential construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $448.1 billion in October, 1.2 percent below the revised September estimate of $453.5 billion.

PUBLIC CONSTRUCTION:
Public Construction In October, the estimated seasonally adjusted annual rate of public construction spending was $334.8 billion, 0.2 percent below the revised September estimate of $335.6 billion. Educational construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $83.3 billion, 2.5 percent above the revised September estimate of $81.3 billion. Highway construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $95.0 billion, 2.2 percent below the revised September estimate of $97.1 billion.

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Construction spending during September 2019 was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1,293.6 billion, 0.5 percent above the revised August estimate of $1,287.1 billion. However, the September figure is 2.0 percent below the September 2018 estimate of $1,319.7 billion. During the first nine months of this year, construction spending amounted to $968.7 billion, 2.2 percent below the $990.2 billion for the same period in 2018.

PRIVATE CONSTRUCTION: Private Construction Spending on private construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $961.7 billion, 0.2 percent above the revised August estimate of $959.9 billion. Residential construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $511.4 billion in September, 0.6 percent above the revised August estimate of $508.4 billion. Nonresidential construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $450.3 billion in September, 0.3 percent below the revised August estimate of $451.4 billion.

PUBLIC CONSTRUCTION: Public Construction In September, the estimated seasonally adjusted annual rate of public construction spending was $331.9 billion, 1.5 percent above the revised August estimate of $327.2 billion. Educational construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $78.9 billion, 3.1 percent above the revised August estimate of $76.5 billion. Highway construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $98.0 billion, 2.6 percent above the revised August estimate of $95.5 billion.

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