US Construction Spending Increases in August

On Thursday, the US Census Bureau reported that total construction spending in August was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of $2,203.1 billion, up 0.9% from the revised July estimate of $2,184.5 billion. Compared with August 2025, spending was down 1.7% from $2,242.0 billion.

For the first eight months of this year, construction spending totaled $1,450.4 billion—3.1% lower than the $1,496.6 billion spent during the same period in 2025.

Private Construction

Private construction spending was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1,655.3 billion in August, up 1.1% from the revised July total of $1,637.7 billion.

Residential construction rose 1.1% to $882.3 billion, up from $872.7 billion in July. Nonresidential construction increased 1.0% to $773.0 billion, compared with $765.0 billion in July.

Public Construction

Public construction spending was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $547.8 billion in August, up 0.2% from the revised July figure of $546.8 billion.

Educational construction rose 0.1% to $113.1 billion, while highway construction increased 0.1% to $150.6 billion.