WASHINGTON, May 23 (UPI) -- Capital spending by all U.S. non-farm businesses fell to $1.09 trillion in 2009, its lowest level in five years, a government report indicates.
Total investment spending on new and used structures and equipment in 2009 was $284.1 billion below the 2008 level, a report released Monday by the U.S. Census Bureau's Annual Capital Expenditures Survey said.
Sectors registering the largest total increases in investment spending between 2000 and 2009 were mining, up $58.7 billion; utilities up $40.5 billion; and healthcare and social assistance, up $27.2 billion.
The largest absolute decreases in investment spending in that period were recorded by the information industry, down $72.5 billion, and manufacturing, down $59 billion.
The sectors surveyed for the report included manufacturing, utilities, mining, finance and insurance, information, health care and social assistance, and real estate and rental and leasing.
