http://www.yahoo.com/headlines/current/business/stories/construction.html (Einblicke ins Internet, 10/1995)
WASHINGTON (Reuter) - Construction spending rose at the strongest rate in more than 1 1/2 years in July, the Commerce Department said Friday, with increases across the board for both private and government-funded projects.
Total spending increased 2.0 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $529.8 billion -- the largest monthly gain since 2.1 percent rise in November 1993 -- following a 0.9 percent rise in June.
Spending on all types of projects was strong.
For example, after falling for six months in a row, spending on residential construction projects picked up 1.8 percent to a $232.6 billion a year rate in July.
Privately financed construction projects of all types increased 2.4 percent to a seasonally adjusted $386.6 billion -- the strongest level since $387.1 billion last November.
That includes not only single-family homes and apartments but also industrial plants, offices, hotels and other buildings.
Public, or taxpayer-financed projects, increased 0.8 percent to a seasonally adjusted $143.2 billion after a 2.5 percent jump in June.
Spending was up especially strongly on government projects like highways and streets but also on water supply projects in July.
On the private side, spending to build single-family homes rose to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $138.9 billion from $135.8 billion in June. Spending on apartment projects was up to $19.5 billion a year from $17.4 billion in June.
Private spending on nonresidential buildings like offices and hotels was up to $113.9 billion in July from $109.8 billion.