Research by KHL Group, publisher of International Construction magazine, shows that global fiscal stimulus could add US$ 355 billion per year to the world's construction output in 2009 and 2010. This is equivalent to an additional 7% on top of the world's current annual construction output of about US$ 5 trillion, and equates to more than the annual construction output of Germany, the fourth biggest market in the world.

Chris Sleight, editor of International Construciton magazine says, "The potential boost to the global construction industry from fiscal stimulus packages over the next two years could be enormous. US$ 355 billion is greater than the GDP of many medium-sized countries, and in terms of construction it is greater than the size of the German market - the fourth biggest market in the world."

He continued, "The key now is for the spending pledges to translate into real on-the-ground activity. Governments need to make sure their planning and tendering processes are as stream-lined as possible and that there are no bureaucratic obstacles in the way of these plans being effective."

The total additional spending to shore-up economic growth in 20 major economies is set to exceed US$ 1.9 trillion, of which US$ 795 billion has been ear-marked for construction. Most of this will be spent in 2009 and 2010, however schemes such as Brazil's housing-focussed package will be longer term.

Of all the major economies, China's extra investment in construction will be the most over the next two years, with US$ 450 billion of its US$ 585 billion stimulus package earmarked for infrastructure. That investment of US$ 225 billion per year for two years is equivalent to an extra +40% boost to China's US$ 540 billion per year construction output.