US Construction Spending Declines in September

On Monday, the US Census Bureau reported that total construction spending in September was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of $2,186.1 billion, down 1.9% from the revised August estimate of $2,227.4 billion. Compared to September 2025, spending was down 2.7% from $2,245.8 billion.

For the first nine months of 2026, construction spending totaled $1,649.6 billion—2.9% lower than the $1,698.6 billion spent during the same period last year.

Private Construction

Private construction spending was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1,639.3 billion in September, down 2.4% from the revised August total of $1,680.3 billion.

Residential construction fell 5.5% to $848.7 billion, down from $898.0 billion in August. Nonresidential construction increased 1.1% to $790.6 billion, compared to $782.3 billion in August.

Public Construction

Public construction spending was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $546.8 billion in September, down 0.1% from the revised August figure of $547.1 billion.

Educational construction was virtually unchanged at $113.1 billion, while highway construction declined 0.3% to $149.2 billion.