By Sarah Chaney

WASHINGTON--Spending on U.S. construction projects decreased in April as the coronavirus dented the broader economy, according to Monday's Commerce Department report. Here are the report's highlights:

- Construction spending declined 2.9% in April from the prior month. Economists surveyed by The Wall Street Journal expected construction spending to fall 5.8% in April.

-From a year earlier, overall construction spending was up 3%.

-Private construction spending decreased 3% from a month earlier. Residential construction was down 4.5%.

-Government construction spending fell 2.5% from a month earlier.

Write to Sarah Chaney at sarah.chaney@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

June 01, 2020 10:22 ET (14:22 GMT)