Construction spending remains strong in the panhandle, despite a drop in national spending this summer.
The U.S. Commerce Department says construction spending dropped between June and July by about one percent. They cite a large drop in spending on home improvement projects for the decline.
However many construction crews remain quite busy this summer and say the panhandle bucks the national trend.
"We sell, service and install garage doors and openers- commercial and residential," says Mike Kembel of M.B.Kem Enterprises. "This year especially, before even the storms hit, we were really really busy, and we're still busy now. Doesn't want to seem to let up, I still get calls daily."
Kembel says he's seen plenty of other contractors at surrounding job sites this summer as well.
