US Construction Spending Edges Higher in August

On Monday, the US Census Bureau released its delayed construction spending report for August, showing total construction spending at a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of $2,169.5 billion. This was 0.2% above the revised July estimate of $2,165.0 billion. Compared with August 2024, spending was down 1.6% from $2,205.3 billion.

For the first eight months of 2025, construction spending totaled $1,438.0 billion—1.8% lower than the $1,463.7 billion for the same period in 2024.

Private Construction

Private construction spending was at a SAAR of $1,652.1 billion in August, up 0.3% from the revised July total of $1,647.5 billion.

Residential construction rose 0.8% to $914.8 billion, compared with $907.7 billion in July. Nonresidential construction declined 0.3% to $737.3 billion, down from $739.8 billion in July.

Public Construction

Public construction spending was estimated at a SAAR of $517.3 billion in August, little changed from the revised July figure of $517.5 billion.

Educational construction increased 0.6% to $112.6 billion, while highway construction slipped 0.2% to $142.5 billion.