Dive summary:

• With the signs of an economic recovery growing as 2012 progressed, the use of portland cement for paving in North America was up 36% in the fourth quarter of 2012 compared with the last three months of 2011.
• The Portland Cement Association said overall cement consumption during the quarter rose 4.9% – 4.6% in the U.S. and 7.6% in Canada.
• On the year, ready-mixed concrete use in the two nations was nearly 6 million metric tons higher than whgat was used in 2011, the association said.

From the article:

The U.S. ended the year with a 9% expansion in portland cement consumption, which reflects burgeoning economic momentum. ...