Your Money

By Daniel Eisenberg

CONCRETE GAINS UP AHEAD

The nation's ailing roads and bridges aren't the only things likely to prosper from the $203 billion highway-spending act President Clinton signed last week. Analysts expect the government's pork-laden largesse to pave the way for solid growth at major cement and aggregate (sand and gravel) providers as public construction projects multiply in the next few years. Firms like Lafarge, Southdown, Martin Marietta Materials and Vulcan Materials will be busy laying down the concrete and asphalt, so look for their relatively affordable shares to keep rolling higher.

STATES GIVE TAX RELIEF

Now that states are suddenly flush with cash, they're starting to give some back to taxpayers. At least 14 states--including Arizona, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Nebraska and New York--have used sky-high tax revenues to cut personal income taxes in 1998, according to a new study. Tax revenues are still rising, so there could be more cuts coming.

CHEAPER CAR INSURANCE

State Farm Mutual, which has already cut car-insurance rates about 2% in some parts of the country this year, said last week it would refund some $900 million to policyholders in 35 states. Thanks to safer cars and drivers who are aging and more cautious, insurance claims are slowing down. With competitors like Allstate and Progressive likely to follow the industry leader, drivers should shop around for a company willing to share the wealth. --By Daniel Eisenberg