3 REGIONAL--3.1 NORTH AMERICA

The U.S. annual gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate in 2018 was 2.9%, up 0.6% compared with the previous year according to the IMF. The U.S. Census Bureau reported that the annual value of construction spending in the non-residential sector increased in 2018 by 4.7% compared with the previous year. The United States has maintained sound economic growth in 2018 compared with the previous year.