Want to see how the construction industry will do in 2011? Look at how architects did in 2010. By that gauge, last year's thin uptick in building design and engineering services foretells a similar small gain ahead for builders -- after two years of steep declines.
The measure was boosted by the second straight monthly rise in private construction spending. Single-family homes posted their biggest gain in six months Still, it's way too soon to declare an end to the private building slump.
U.S. construction spending%u2019s unexpected 0.5% rise in September was tempered somewhat by the fact that August%u2019s tally was revised downward to an 0.2% spending decrease, considerably worse than the initially estimated 0.4% gain.
The unexpected increase of 0.3% to a 610,000 annual rate provides additional evidence that homebuilding may be bottoming. However, economists caution that it's still too early to declare any kind of solid turnaround.