Washington, DC, August 1, 2006--Construction spending rose 0.3% in June to an annual rate of $1.22 trillion, according to the Commerce Department.
Economists had forecast an increase of 0.1% in June.
June spending private construction projects rose 0.1% to $944.7 billion. Private residential construction fell 1.0% in June, according to the Commerce Department. It's the third consecutive monthly decline in private residential outlays.
Spending on public-sector projects rose 0.8% to an all-time high of $272.5 billion.
Construction outlays were flat in May, according to revised data. May outlays were previously estimated to decline by 0.4%.
State and local spending also hit an all-time high, rising 0.9% to $255.3 billion.
Spending by the federal government, fell by 0.7% to $17.2 billion, the second consecutive monthly decline.
Non-residential private sector spending rose 2.7% to $303.1 billion, another all-time high.
In the public sector, spending on educational projects rose 0.4%. Highway construction rose 0.1% to $77.8 billion.
In the private sector, spending on education projects fell 2.5%. Spending on lodging projects dipped 8.7%
Expenditures for private projects rose 0.1% to $944.7 billion. Construction outlays were flat in May, according to revised data. May outlays were previously estimated to decline by 0.4%.
