U.S. Construction Spending Edges Up in May

Washington, DC, July 1, 2026—Total U.S. construction spending inched up 0.1% in May to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $2.21 trillion, according to the latest report from the U.S. Census Bureau. Despite the monthly gain, spending was down 1.5% compared with May 2025.

Private construction spending was essentially flat at $1.67 trillion. Residential construction rose 0.3% to an annual rate of $930.2 billion, while nonresidential construction declined 0.3% to $738.7 billion.

Public construction increased 0.5% to an annual rate of $541.2 billion. Spending on educational projects and highway construction each rose 0.6% from April.

For the first five months of 2026, total construction spending was $858.4 billion, down 2.7% from the same period a year earlier, according to the Commerce Department.