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Construction Spending Tumbles

Spending falls at fastest rate since 1994

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Mar 3, 2008 10:23 AM CST

(Newser) – Construction spending fell at its fastest rate in 14 years in January, the Commerce Department announced today, shattering expectations with a 1.7% drop. Analysts had expected just a 0.7% decline, the Wall Street Journal reports. Residential spending was the big drag, falling 2.9%, but non-residential spending was also down and could keep heading in that direction as banks raise commercial loan standards.

“The collapse in non-residential building is the next shoe to drop,” one economist told Bloomberg. “Right now we have a very weak investment environment.” A separate report confirmed that manufacturing is officially contracting. The latest ISM index hit 48.3, its lowest point since April 2003. Any reading below 50 indicates contraction.

Work progresses on a new home in a Little Rock, Ark. neighborhood Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2008. (AP Photo/Danny Johnston)
Work progresses on a new home in a Little Rock, Ark. neighborhood Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2008. (AP Photo/Danny Johnston)   (Associated Press)
A steel column is unloaded at the Freedom Tower construction site on Saturday, Nov. 10, 2007.(AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
A steel column is unloaded at the Freedom Tower construction site on Saturday, Nov. 10, 2007.(AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)   (Associated Press)
A carpenter works inside a building in this, Friday, Feb. 22, 2008 file photo. (AP Photo/Javier Galeano)
A carpenter works inside a building in this, Friday, Feb. 22, 2008 file photo. (AP Photo/Javier Galeano)   (Associated Press)
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