Public
Public sector construction improved for the first time since 2009, but only by 1.8%, according to Ken Simonson, chief economist for AGC. Highway and street construction grew 4%, funded in part by MAP-21, the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act, which provided $105 billion through 2014. Read More
Nonresidential
Private nonresidential construction spending outperformed other sectors, climbing 11% from 2013. According to AGC's Simonson, warehouse construction was the hottest segment (with 50% growth) followed by offices (24%), manufacturing (16%), oil and gas pipelines and field work (14%), and commercial-retail and farm work (13%). Read More
Residential
Residential activity was slower than expected in 2014, increasing by only 4%, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Single-family home construction rose 12%, with total annual housing starts exceeding 1 million units, according to Dodge Analytics; an upward trend toward the U.S. peak of 2 million starts in 2006. Read More