Steel Markets
Construction Spending Up in May: AGC
Written by Becca Moczygemba
July 6, 2023
Total US construction spending increased in May by 0.9% from April and 2.4% year-over-year (YoY), according to the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC).
“The data for May show there has been no letup in the feverish pace of manufacturing construction but a very mixed picture for other project types,” said Ken Simonson, chief economist of AGC. “There have been strong year-over-year increases in most categories, but it remains to be seen if the market is now cooling.”
Construction spending in May, not adjusted for inflation, came to a seasonally adjusted rate of $1.925 trillion. Private nonresidential construction fell 0.3% month-over-month (MoM) while residential construction increased 2.2% MoM.
Public nonresidential spending was mixed, increasing overall by only 0.1% MoM. Highway and road construction dropped 0.4% from April, and transportation facilities fell 0.8%, according to AGC. However, sewage and waste disposal saw a bump of 1.1%, while water supply construction moved up 2.6%.
Manufacturing construction increased 1% MoM and has surged 76.9% YoY, AGC said.
AGC officials have asked the Biden administration to clarify the parameters for utilizing American-made construction materials, apprenticeship programs, and tax credits to fund energy projects.
“Contractors are eager to build the infrastructure Congress has approved,” said Stephen E. Sandherr, AGC’s CEO. Officials said the lack of clarity is an obstacle for bidding on projects or moving forward with ones that have been secured.
“It’s up to federal officials to make sure these projects can get built by issuing timely and clear rules that are consistent with Congressional intent,” Sandherr added.
By Becca Moczygemba, becca@steelmarketupdate.com
Becca Moczygemba
Read more from Becca MoczygembaLatest in Steel Markets
Tariffs, ample domestic supply cause importers to shift or cancel HR import orders
Subdued demand is causing importers to cancel hot-rolled (HR) coil orders and renegotiate the terms of shipments currently enroute to the US, importers say. An executive for a large overseas mill said customers might find it difficult to justify making imports buys after US President Donald Trump doubled the 25% Section 232 tariff on imported steel […]
CRU Insight: A 50% S232 tariff will raise US steel prices and shift trade flows
This CRU Insight examines how the increase in Section 232 tariffs on steel to challenging levels will lead to significatively higher prices for end consumers in the US market.
Steel market shakes tariffs off amid weak demand
Service centers and distributors contend that weak demand is to blame for the flattening of domestic steel spot prices, as reflected in Nucor Steel’s weekly Consumer Spot Price (CSP) notice. On Monday, the Charlotte, North Carolina-headquartered steel producer left prices unchanged from the previous week. Nucor has maintained prices of plate produced in Brandenburg since March 28.
SMU’s May at a glance
SMU’s Monthly Review provides a summary of our key steel market metrics for the previous month, with the latest data updated through May 30.
Metalforming manufacturers predict stagnant market: PMA Business Conditions Report
Most of the surveyed US and Canadian metalforming manufacturers expect general economic activity to remain steady over the next three months.