**MNI: 5 Things We Learned From Construction Spending Data>

By Holly Stokes and Sara Haire

     WASHINGTON (MNI) - The following are the key points from November 

construction spending data released by the Commerce Department 

Wednesday: 

     - November construction spending rose 0.8% vs +0.7% expected, while 

October construction was revised down to a 0.9% gain and September 

construction was revised up to a 1.3% increase. 

     - The November increase was driven by a 1.0% rise in private 

construction with private residential up 1.0%, to its highest level 

since February 2007, and nonresidential up 0.9%. 

     - Public construction spending saw a soft 0.2% gain following a 

3.5% gain in October and a 2.5% gain in September, however, the level is 

the highest since June 2016. Federal spending fell 4.8% while state and 

local was up 0.7%.  

     - Private multi-family building down 1.3%, but new 1-family 

building offset the loss with a 1.9% gain. Home building ex. new homes, 

or remodeling, was up 0.7% based on an MNI calculation. 

     - While private nonresidential spending was up 0.9%, there 

were declines in communication, power, and manufacturing, softening 

the gains in other categories. 

     ** MNI Washington Bureau: 202-371-2121 ** 

[TOPICS: MAUDS$,M$U$$$,MAUDR$]