From Dodge Data Analytics, total construction starts slipped 6% from December to January to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $759.2 billion. All three major categories moved lower in January — residential building starts fell 8%, nonresidential building lost 6% and nonbuilding starts moved 2% lower.

From Bradley Corp.’s 11th annual Healthy Hand Washing Survey, a key takeaway shows the number of Americans who will “definitely” or “probably” shell out more money in response clean restrooms has climbed to 62% this year from only 45% two years ago. Millennials and Gen Xers, the survey shows, are most likely to open their wallets. The study also finds almost three of four Americans make it a point to visit a business because they know it has nice restrooms. Women are especially likely to show preferential treatment.

Also from the Bradley survey, a number of grievances in public restrooms trigger high levels of frustration. Among the most aggravating are clogged/unflushed toilets (85%), empty/jammed toilet paper dispensers (83%) and partition doors that don’t latch shut (78%). Women and baby boomers express the most annoyance about these inconveniences, the survey shows.

Dodge notes some perspective on the above 6% number can be gleaned by examining a 12-month moving total. By doing that, nonresidential building starts were down by less than a percentage point, but non-building construction was 8% higher during the 12 months ending January 2020. Dodge’s Momentum Index lowered to 161 from 171 in December and was 8% lower than its most recent 12-month average.