Construction Spending Rose 0.9% in August

Washington, DC, October 1, 2026—Construction spending during August 2026 was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $2,203.1 billion, 0.9% above the revised July estimate of $2,184.5 billion, according to the Department of Commerce.

The August figure is 1.7% below the August 2025 estimate of $2,242.0 billion. 

During the first eight months of this year, construction spending amounted to $1,450.4 billion, 3.1% below the $1,496.6 billion for the same period in 2025.

Spending on private construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1,655.3 billion, 1.1% above the revised July estimate of $1,637.7 billion. Residential construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $882.3 billion in August, 1.1% above the revised July estimate of $872.7 billion. Nonresidential construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $773.0 billion in August, 1.0% above the revised July estimate of $765.0 billion.

In August, the estimated seasonally adjusted annual rate of public construction spending was $547.8 billion, 0.2% above the revised July estimate of $546.8 billion. Educational construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $113.1 billion, 0.1% above the revised July estimate of $112.9 billion. Highway construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $150.6 billion, 0.1% above the revised July estimate of $150.5 billion.