October 1, 2020
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. construction spending increased more than expected in August as historically low interest rates boosted homebuilding.
The Commerce Department said on Thursday that construction spending jumped 1.4%. Data for July was revised higher to show construction outlays increasing 0.7% instead of edging up 0.1% as previously reported.
Economists polled by Reuters had forecast construction spending gaining 0.8% in August. Construction spending shot up 2.5% on a year-on-year basis.
Spending on private construction projects surged 1.9%, fueled by investment in homebuilding amid record-low mortgage rates and a pandemic-driven migration to suburbs and low density areas. Spending on residential projects accelerated 3.7%, eclipsing a 0.3% drop in outlays on nonresidential construction projects such as manufacturing and power plants.
Spending on public construction projects nudged up 0.1%.
(Reporting by Lucia Mutikani; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)
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