Inside the numbers

USGS' latest mineral industry survey shows a 17 percent decline in aggregates production in 2008 from the previous year and a 23 percent decline in the fourth quarter compared to 2007. But how do the production numbers break down in terms of geography? Let's look a little closer. From our earlier posting, we already know that the estimated production-for-consumption of aggregates in the fourth quarter of 2008 decreased in all of the geographic divisions compared with that sold or used in the fourth quarter of 2007. The largest decreases in percentages were recorded in the South Atlantic (31 percent) and the Pacific (29 percent) divisions. What we didn't tell you is that production-for-consumption of aggregates in the fourth quarter decreased in 46 of the 48 states that were estimated. The five leading states, in descending order of production-for-consumption, were Texas, California, Ohio, Missouri and Pennsylvania. Their combined total production-for-consumption was 151 million metric tons and represented 29 percent of the U.S. total. The estimated production-for-consumption of crushed stone in the fourth quarter of 2008 decreased in eight of the nine geographic divisions compared with that sold or used in the fourth quarter of 2007. The largest decreases were recorded in the Mountain (32 percent) and the South Atlantic (32 percent) divisions. Production-for-consumption of crushed stone decreased in 38 of the 47 states that were estimated. The five leading states, in descending order of production-for-consumption, were Texas, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Illinois and Ohio. Their combined total production-for-consumption was 99.1 million metric tons and represented 33 percent of the U.S. total. The estimated production-for-consumption of construction sand and gravel in the fourth quarter of 2008 decreased from fourth quarter 2007 levels in all of the nine geographic divisions. The largest decreases in percentages were recorded in the West North Central (38 percent) and the Pacific (35 percent) divisions. Production-for-consumption of construction sand and gravel decreased in 41 of the 46 states that were estimated. The five leading states, in descending order of production-for-consumption, were California, Texas, Arizona, Wisconsin and Michigan. Their combined total production-for-consumption was 78.9 million metric tons and represented 37 percent of the U.S. total. -- Brian Richesson