Nonresidential spending slows in last half of '99; forecast mixed.

LAST YEAR was a mixed bag for the nonresidential construction market, with some sectors growing at double-digit rates and others continuing to fade. Although commercial construction spending continued to grow at a solid rate, the institutional sector still has shown the faintest signs of improving upon its disappointing performance of the last two years. The industrial sector remains in negative territory.

Overall nonresidential construction spending during 1999 was 2.5% greater than during 1998. This was well below the impressive 8.4% growth rate recorded the year befo