Introduction
The chart shows yearly infrastructure spending in the United States. The data comes from official records. Each point shows total spending for one year. The line goes up and down. This shows how spending changes over time.
Early Spending Patterns
At the start of the chart, spending stays within a small range. The changes are slow and steady. This means funding grows in small steps. There are no big jumps. Even during hard economic times, spending does not change much. During this period, infrastructure funding looks stable.
Sudden Increase
Later in the chart, the pattern changes. Spending rises very fast. The increase is large and clear. The spike stands far above earlier levels. This shows a strong push for infrastructure projects. The change happens in a short time. It feels different from past years.
Decline After the Peak
After reaching the highest point, spending begins to fall. The drop happens over several years. Much of the earlier gain is lost. Spending does not stay high. Instead, it moves closer to past levels. The spike does not last.
Long-Term Pattern
When looking at the full chart, the increase looks temporary. Spending returns toward its old range. The long-term trend stays mostly flat. This shows that short funding boosts do not last on their own.
Why This Matters
Short funding spikes can affect local jobs. When spending falls, work can slow down. This can hurt workers in some areas.
Remote work helps reduce this risk. Workers can keep jobs even when local projects stop. This helps smooth job changes across regions.
The chart also raises concerns about one-time policy actions. The increase was real. The pullback was also real. Lasting change needs steady funding over time.
Dataset
Data Sources
Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED)
Notes and Methodology
The chart uses yearly data on U.S. infrastructure spending. The data comes from official sources. Each value shows total spending for one year.
The data was not adjusted. No seasonal changes were made. Prices were not adjusted for inflation.
The full timeline is shown to highlight stable years, the sharp rise, and the later drop.