Congress Passes Stopgap Bill To Keep Government Running

Congress has approved a new short-term spending bill to keep federal agencies' activities, including construction programs, operating through Nov. 18. The final congressional action came on Oct. 4, when the House passed the measure by a 352-66 vote. The House's approval sends the bill to the White House. President Obama was expected to sign it before midnight Oct. 4, when a previous stopgap was due to expire. The new continuing resolution pares funding for the seven-week period by about 1.5% from fiscal 2011 levels.

Still Down

Despite 8% Rise In August Starts, Markets Still Trail 2010

Total construction starts jumped 8% in August over July to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $424.7 billion, according to McGraw-Hill Construction. However, the August uptick was not enough to offset earlier weakness. On a year-to-date basis, total construction starts through the first eight months of the year were still 6% below the same period in 2010. Compared to the previous month, the August starts received a big boost from a 107% increase in health-care work, which included a $385-million U.S. Army medical center in Fort Hood, Texas. In addition, two hospitals in California, totaling $434 million, and a $220-million hospital in Maine all hit the start stage in August.