Construction spending in January totaled $792 billion at a seasonally adjusted annual rate, the Census Bureau reported today, down 0.7% from the upwardly revised December total of $798 billion (originally estimated as $788 billion), down 5.9% from the January 2010 level and the second-lowest mark since July 2000.

“The value of new construction starts retreated 6% in January” at a seasonally adjusted annual rate, according to McGraw-Hill Construction (MHC), based on data it collected. “The decline came as the result of a pullback for nonresidential building after a strong December, combined with a loss of momentum for residential building.

The Census Bureau has begun to provide detailed locality and other data about population changes between 2000 and 2010. As of February 22, population changes by county and city were available for 13 states, with seven more expected this week and the rest by the end of March.

The producer price index (PPI) for finished goods increased 0.8% in January and 3.6% over the past 12 months, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported on Wednesday.

The prices contractors must pay for many essential construction materials continued to increase in January, even as the amount they charge for completed projects remains flat, according to an analysis of January producer price index figures released Wednesday by AGC.

This isn’t a weather report but an economic one. On February 4, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that construction employment in January tumbled by 32,000 jobs.

Nonfarm payroll employment climbed by only 36,000 in January, seasonally adjusted, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported on Friday. The unemployment rate dropped from 9.4% in December, seasonally adjusted, to 9.0% (9.8%, not seasonally adjusted).

Seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll employment decreased in 35 states and the District of Columbia and increased in 15 states from November to December, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported on Tuesday. Compared with December 2009, employment increased in 42 states and D.C. and decreased in eight states.

AGC members polled about the outlook for 10 categories of construction in 2011 remained cautious but were more upbeat about hiring than in 2010, AGC and survey cosponsor Navigant reported today (www.agc.org). Only 16% of the responding general and specialty contractors said they expect the construction market to resume growing in 2011, 48% in 2012, 23% in 2013, and 13% in 2014.

Construction firms are facing increasing pressure in December as nearly every material used by contractors rose in price, while bid prices for new buildings remained flat, according to AGC's analysis of December producer price index figures released Thursday.