Construction spending during Aug. 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 U.S. Census Dept., the August figure is -1.7% below the Aug. 2025 estimate of $2,242 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.

Private construction

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 billion in August, +1% above the revised July estimate of $765 billion.
Data centers spending didn’t move much in August from its already lofty level, but at $85 billion, it’s up 73.2% year-over-year.

Public construction

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.