Construction Spending

Resources

Construction spending in March totaled $809 billion at a seasonally adjusted annual rate, up 0.1% from the downwardly revised February total and up 6.0% from March 2011, the Census Bureau reported on Tuesday. Private nonresidential and residential spending each climbed 0.7% for the month, with nonresidential rising 15% year-over-year, and residential up 7.4%. Public construction spending fell 1.1% for the month and 3.2% for the year. In percentage terms, the largest year-over-year growth occurred in manufacturing construction (1.8% for the month, 39% over 12 months); private multifamily (-3.1% and 23%, respectively); and power, including oil and gas (0.2% and 22%). Single-family construction jumped 3.8% for the month and 10% year-over-year. Highway spending fell 0.6% and 0.4%, respectively.

1/12 Total Share 12 month % change
Nonresidential (priv.+federal+state/local) $566 Billion 100% 8%
Power (incl. oil & gas struc., pipelines) $100 18% 24%
Educational $87 15% 6%
Highway and street $84 15% 5%
Commercial (retail, wholesale, farm) $43 8% 8%
Health care $41 7% 10%
Manufacturing $41 7% 38%
Transportation $35 6% -7%
Office $34 6% 1%
Sewage and waste disposal $24 4% 0%
Communication $18 3% 1%
Amusement and recreation $16 3% 2%
Other (water, public safety; lodging; conservation; religious): 8% of total