US Construction Spending Rises in March

On Thursday, the US Census Bureau reported that total construction spending in March was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of $2,185.5 billion, up 0.6% from the revised February estimate of $2,173.2 billion. Compared to March 2025, spending was up 1.6% from $2,150.8 billion.

For the first three months of 2026, construction spending totaled $479.4 billion—0.3% higher than the $477.9 billion spent during the same period in 2025.

Private Construction

Private construction spending was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1,659.0 billion in March, up 0.8% from the revised February total of $1,645.6 billion.

Residential construction rose 1.7% to $929.7 billion, up from $914.6 billion in February. Nonresidential construction declined 0.2% to $729.4 billion, compared to $731.0 billion in February.

Public Construction

Public construction spending was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $526.4 billion in March, down 0.2% from the revised February figure of $527.6 billion.

Educational construction fell 0.6% to $113.0 billion, while highway construction declined 0.1% to $147.8 billion.