By MARTIN CRUTSINGER AP Economics Writer WASHINGTON (AP) – Builders began work on more office buildings, hotels and factories in March, lifting construction spending after three straight monthly declines. Construction spending rose 1.4 percent in March, according to a Commerce ...

Tagged with: Commerce Department spending

By Martin Crutsinger AP Economics Writer Washington — Builders began work on fewer offices, shopping centers and other commercial projects in January, pushing construction spending down to near a decade low. Builders trimmed their activity 0.7 percent in January following ...

Tagged with: Commerce Department jobs spending

By Martin Crutsinger AP Economics Writer Washington — Builders began work on fewer homes, shopping centers and other projects in 2010, pushing total building activity down to the lowest point in a decade. Construction spending dropped 10.3 percent last year, ...

Tagged with: builders Commerce Department homebuilders spending

By Joe Yovino Spending from the Federal government’s stimulus program is helping the construction industry, albeit slower than many expected. That’s according to Ken Simonson, chief economist of the Associated General Contractors of America. Simonson spoke Thursday during an industrywide ...

Tagged with: AGC AIA American Institute of Architects Associated General Contractors of America Ken Simonson Kermit Baker Reed Construction Data spending stimulus

By MARTIN CRUTSINGER AP Economics Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — Construction spending rose in August as a big jump in government building projects offset further weakness in the private sector. Construction spending edged up 0.4 percent in August following a 1.4 percent drop ...

Tagged with: Commerce Department economy jobs Obama spending

By MARTIN CRUTSINGER AP Economics Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — Construction activity surged in April by the largest amount in nearly a decade. The unexpected gains could mean the hardest-hit sector of the economy is starting to recover. Construction shot up ...

Tagged with: Commerce Department construction spending economy spending stimulus

By MARTIN CRUTSINGER AP Economics Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — Personal spending jumped by a larger amount than expected in January but Americans’ incomes barely budged as millions of Social Security recipients did not get their usual cost of living boost. ...

Tagged with: Commerce Department economy GDP income National Association for Business Economics spending

By CHRISTOPHER S. RUGABER AP Economics Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of newly laid-off workers seeking unemployment benefits fell more than expected last week to the lowest total in a month, a sign the job market may be improving. ...

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By CHRISTOPHER S. RUGABER AP Economics Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — Personal incomes rose more than expected in December and consumer spending increased for the third straight month, helping the economy slowly recover from the worst recession in decades. The Commerce ...

Tagged with: Commerce Department consumer personal income recession spending

By CHRISTOPHER S. RUGABER AP Economics Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — The economy grew faster than expected at the end of last year, though the engine of that growth — companies replenishing stockpiles — is likely to weaken as consumers keep ...

Tagged with: Commerce Department economy spending