­­­Construction Put-in-Place, (CPIP): Total U.S. construction spending continued to perform well in July 2020, especially in the state and local sector. Census Bureau non-seasonally adjusted (NSA), constant dollar CPIP data showed that July’s twelve month total, (12MT) construction expenditures grew by 4.4% year on year (y/y), to $365.1 billion (B). On a 12MT basis, private expenditures advanced 3.1% y/y, while State & Local advanced by 6.5% y/y. Non-residential 12MT CPIP increased by 6.4%, 12MT y/y to $164.7 B.

Total Construction: Table 1 presents CPIP data for total construction for both 3 moving total and 12 month moving total y/y metrics. Momentum, defined as 3MT minus 12MT is also shown. Momentum provides market direction with green indicating stronger activity and red indicating slowing activity. Private construction accounted for 70% of the total three months expenditures ending in July. State & local spending accounted for 28%, the remaining 2% was for federally financed projects. The private sector posted 3.1% growth and 4.2% increase for 3MT and 12MT y/y comparisons resulting in a negative 1.1% momentum for the month of July.  

Single-family residential construction recorded 1.2% decrease on a 3MT basis and 2.9% increase on a 12MT basis. On a 3MT basis, State and Local total construction recorded a 6.5% increase in spending.

Non-residential Construction: Table 2 shows the breakdown of non-residential construction (NRC). The overall growth rate was 6.4% on a 3MT y/y and 6.2% increase on a 12MT y/y basis resulting in a positive 0.2% momentum.

The growth rate of private NRC was 5.2% increase for the 3MT, and the rolling 12MT value was 4.6%, leading to a momentum score of 0.6%. State and local expenditures were positive for both 3MT and 12MT metrics.

At Gerdau we monitor the CPIP numbers every month to keep you, our customers informed on the health of the U.S. construction market.