Aggregates Volumes First Quarter 2008

Implications: Data released by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported that crushed stone and sand & gravel (aggregates) volumes declined 13.7% in the first quarter of 2008 compared to the same quarter in 2007. (The report does not include Alaska, Hawaii, Vermont, Maine, Delaware, Rhode Island and North Dakota). Volumes declined in all states with  the exception of New Jersey +9.0%, New York +8.8%, Colorado +19.9%, Wyoming +3.0%, Massachusetts +5.7%, West Virginia +9.0%, Iowa +5.7%, Kansas +68.2%, Nebraska +20.9%, Oklahoma +15.4% and Texas +14.7%.   

Analysis:  The West South Central region had the strongest volume gains up 11.1% led by Oklahoma and Texas up 15.4% & 14.7% respectively. The Middle Atlantic region declined only 0.5% led by gains of 9.0% in New Jersey and 8.8% in New York. West North Central saw a decline of 5.1% overall with increases in Kansas +68.2% and Iowa at 5.7%, significant declines were experienced in Missouri -28.7% and Minnesota -23.0%. New England had a decline of 5.5% with gains in Massachusetts +5.7% and Connecticut off 2.5%.  New Hampshire was off 32.6% impacted by heavy snow. The East North Central Region was off 16.9% with the largest declines in Illinois -29.3%,  Ohio -17.1%, and Indiana -12.6%. The Mountain States fell 21.3% with gains in Colorado +19.9% and Wyoming +3.0%. The largest declines were in Utah -50.9%, Idaho -47.7%, and New Mexico -28.2% impacted by heavy snow. The South Atlantic Region saw declines of -22.8%. West Virginia increased 9.0% with the largest declines in Florida -27.1%, Georgia -26.0%, South Carolina -23.2%, and North Carolina -20.9%. East South Central had a decline of 23.5% with the largest decline in Tennessee -42.7%, Kentucky -19.2%, and Mississippi -17.9%. The Pacific Region saw the largest decline off 25.0% with the largest declines in Oregon -31.2% and California off 31.1%