Spending for infrastructure is expected to decline 4.3 percent in 2009 in areas including highway and streets, transportation, sewage/waste disposal and water supply.


According to the Second Quarter 2009 U.S. Infrastructure Market Analysis from IHS Global Insight's Construction Service, spending is trending down, despite help from federal stimulus. Infrastructure spending for 2010 is forecast to fall 1.6 percent and grow 2.4 percent in 2011.

All segments of infrastructure are going to see a decline in 2009, with the exception of power.

Nearly $16 billion of the $48 billion allocated from the federal stimulus package has already been assigned to specific highways and streets projects. However, this boost will be insufficient at keeping real highway and streets construction spending from falling 5.5 percent in 2009. This sector is not expected to see positive year-over-year growth until 2010.

Power construction, which includes power plants, electric distribution systems, natural gas and crude oil tanks, hydroelectric plants, and wind and solar energy facilities, is expected to see an increase of 1 percent from 2008.

Transportation construction, which includes projects such as ports and rail lines, is predicted to drop 10.2 percent in 2009.