WASHINGTON(Reuters) – U.S. construction spending unexpectedly fell in March likely as a resurgence in mortgage rates weighed on homebuilding, but activity remains supported by an acute housing shortage.
The Commerce Department’s Census Bureau said on Wednesday that construction spending slipped 0.2% after being unchanged in February. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast construction spending gaining 0.3%. Construction spending increased 9.6% year-on-year in March.
Spending on private construction projects decreased 0.5% in March after rising 0.2% in February.
Investment in residential construction dropped 0.7% after increasing 0.7% in the prior month. Outlays on new single-family construction projects fell 0.2%.
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