However, while input prices have been rising, there are still few signs of accelerating inflation. Construction and Real Estate Commercial construction remains bustling. Contract awards for construction projects in Minnesota and the Dakotas increased over 20 percent for the three-month period ending in January compared to a year earlier. A materials supplier in Great Falls, Mont., is unusually busy this winter, partially due to favorable weather for building. A commercial real estate firm reports that the downtown Minneapolis retail and entertainment sector is expected to expand with the addition of new hotels and increased residential development.
Residential construction is also strong.
Paul apartment building is promising, according to a commercial real estate firm. Paul area compared to a year earlier. District housing units authorized in 1999 finished with the second highest fourth quarter of the decade. Consumer Spending Retailers remain optimistic about current and prospective sales. Electronics retailers in Billings, Mont., expect 12 percent gains in 2000 compared to last year, according to a Helena branch director.