The rise in the US economy, supported by tax reform and a rise in federal infrastructure programmes, will support the growth of the US concrete construction industry. Ed Sullivan, Portland Cement Association’s Senior Vice President and Chief Economist, offered up this forecast for the US concrete construction industry in a press conference at the recent 2018 World of Concrete conference in Las Vegas. “There is little doubt that the near-term outlook for construction and cement consumption in 2018 and 2019 remain favorable,” said Sullivan. “Strengthening economic conditions, with the addition of fiscal stimulus, and in the context of already low unemployment could awaken inflationary pressures. This could lead to an even more stringent monetary policy, an acceleration in interest rate, and an eventual cooling of construction markets. If this scenario plays out, it will likely take time to gestate and not materialise to a significant degree until after 2019.” /WorldCement