Sept. 23, 2019 – Two key industry economic markers hit on the same day. USGS reported that an estimated 680 Mt of total construction aggregates was produced and shipped for consumption in the United States in the second quarter of 2019, an increase of 3% compared with that of the second quarter of 2018. Production for consumption in the first six months of 2019 increased by 5% compared with that of the same period of 2018. Not strong, but steady production, we will take it. Meanwhile, new construction starts dropped 6% in August; and while nonbuilding constriction was down for the month, it is up for the year, according to Dodge Data and Analytics. “The August decline was expected after July’s robust level of starts,” stated Richard Branch, the new chief economist for Dodge Data & Analytics. “Furthermore, the year-to-date activity continued to suggest that this year’s levels are easing back from what was seen in 2018 – essentially mirroring the slowdown in overall economic growth.”
Key Economic Markers Released
