US: The PCA has confirmed that the US cement industry is on target to see annual cement consumption grow by 4 per cent as projected earlier this year. According to the PCA, it is expected that cement consumption through the end of the year will continue at a steady pace, with additional demand coming from several areas, including moderate residential spending and, to a lesser extent, growth in non-residential and public construction activity. The PCA also said that favourable monetary policy from the Federal Reserve will support construction activity for the next two years. "A key factor for continued growth for the cement industry is steady growth in construction spending, also projected to be up 4 per cent," said PCA Chief Economist and Senior Vice President Edward J Sullivan. "This is very much in line with the overall US economy?s slow-albeit-positive growth path."
Sullivan noted that PCA has fore-casted growth despite conflicting economic indicators from elsewhere. "Despite some ups and downs in the economy, the underlying economic fundamentals are solid," he said.