Construction Outlays Up 0.2%

Washington, DC, March 1, 2006—Spending on construction projects increased a lower-than-expected 0.2% in January, the Commerce Department said Wednesday.

It was the smallest growth in construction spending since June.

Outlays increased 1% in December.

Economists were expecting seasonally adjusted outlays to rise 1.3%, figuring that the warmest January on record would spur construction activity. Housing starts, for instance, increased 14.5% in January.