Summary
According to the USGS (U.S. Geological Survey) cement consumption declined 14.1% during the first 10 months of 2008 compared to the same period in 2007. All regions have experienced declines from 2007. Cement consumption will be slower for the balance of 2008 due to weak construction spending overall. Of the nine regions, five have declines above the national average: East North Central, East South Central, Mountain, Pacific and South Atlantic.
Analysis
The region with the largest decline in the first 10 months of 2008 was the Pacific falling nearly 22% to 11.7 million metric tons (mt). The states with the largest declines in the region include: Alaska -30%, Oregon -27%, California -23%, and Washington -15%, The region with the second greatest decline was the South Atlantic with a drop of 21.5% to 15.6 million mt, led by declines in Florida -27%, South Carolina -23%, and Georgia -21%. The Mountain Region saw a decline of 20% to 8.9 million mt, led by a drop of over 28% in Arizona, Idaho -25%, Nevada 24%, and Utah -20%. Only Wyoming has seen an increase at 9%. The East South Central Region declined 15% to 5.1 million mt, with the largest declines in Tennessee -22% & Alabama -12%. Consumption in The East North Central region fell 14.2% to 10.5 million mt. The largest declines were Indiana -18%, Illinois -17%, & Ohio -14%. The New England States declined 11% to 2.1 million mt, with the largest reductions in Rhode Island -20%, and Maine -19%, and Connecticut -14%. Consumption in the Middle Atlantic Region fell 7% to 6.7 million mt, with the largest declines in Pennsylvania -10% and New York -6%. Volumes were off 6% in the West North Central Region to 7.6 million mt with the largest declines in Minnesota -16% and Missouri -11%. Two states saw gains Kansas +7% and South Dakota +3%. The West South Central Region saw an overall decline of 2% to 16.9 million mt. The largest declines were posted in Arkansas -16% & Louisiana -6%. Texas was nearly flat at -1%, only Oklahoma saw an increase at 5%.
