Mining

Investment spending by employer firms in the mining sector increased from $30.6 billion in 1999 to $149.9 billion in 2008. From 2007 to 2008, spending growth in mining in absolute terms ($29.2 billion) exceeded spending growth in all other sectors and mining’s share of total investment reached a high of 11.6 percent. (Table 2a, Table 3a, in report)

Manufacturing

In 2008, investment spending in the manufacturing sector ($211.4 billion) was not statistically different from the 2007 level ($197.3 billion), which was the highest level since 2000. The sector’s share of total spending (16.3 percent) was not statistically different from the previous-year level (15.5 percent).(3) (Table 2a, Table 3a, in report)

Finance and Insurance

From 2007 to 2008, investment spending in the finance and insurance sector decreased to $145.4 billion. In addition, the sector’s share of total investment spending declined to 11.2 percent, compared with 13.6 percent in 2007. (Table 2a, Table 3a, in report)

Information

In 2008, investment spending in the information sector decreased to $103.4 billion and accounted for 8.0 percent of total spending. (Table 2a, Table 3a, in report)

Health Care and Social Assistance

Investment spending in the health care and social assistance sector increased from $84.2 billion in 2007 to $90.0 billion in 2008. The sector’s share of total spending increased to 7.0 percent in 2008, from 6.6 percent in 2007. (Table 2a, Table 3a, in report)

Utilities

In 2008, investment spending in the utilities sector increased to $98.3 billion, up $12.9 billion from 2007. The sector’s share of total spending increased to 7.6 percent, up from 6.7 percent in 2007. (Table 2a, Table 3a, in report)

Real Estate and Rental and Leasing

In 2008, investment spending in the real estate and rental and leasing sector decreased to $96.0 billion from the $117.5 billion registered in 2007. The sector’s share of total spending declined to 7.4 percent, compared with 9.2 percent in 2007. (Table 2a, Table 3a, in report)

(3) See Notes on the Data for an explanation of statistical difference.