In September, U.S. construction spending showed a slight increase of 0.1% month-over-month, following an upwardly revised 0.1% rise in August. The result aligns with market expectations, highlighting ongoing but limited growth in construction spending, with the public sector leading gains amid a relatively flat performance in private sector construction.
One of the key takeaways from the report is the subdued activity in private construction, which remained unchanged overall for the month. Within the private sector, residential construction edged up by 0.2%, mainly driven by a 0.4% increase in new single-family home construction.
However, multifamily construction experienced a small decline of 0.1%, which reflects caution among developers amid tighter lending conditions and elevated interest rates. Private nonresidential construction fell by 0.1%, impacted primarily by a 0.2% decrease in manufacturing spending and a 0.1% drop in power spending.
Public construction, however, provided a counterbalance to the tepid growth in private spending. Public sector spending saw a rise of 0.5%, with highway and street projects growing by 0.5% month-over-month, underscoring an ongoing commitment to infrastructure investment.
Nonresidential spending within the public sector increased by 0.4%, driven by federal and state spending initiatives aimed at modernizing infrastructure.
On a year-over-year basis, total construction spending posted an increase of 4.6%, reflecting steady long-term growth in the sector. With residential and public construction both showing resilience in September, this data suggests that despite certain headwinds in the private sector, overall construction activity remains on a path of moderate growth.
Public infrastructure spending, in particular, appears poised to play a key role in sustaining momentum in the months ahead, while private sector performance may hinge on broader economic conditions, including interest rate trends and housing demand dynamics.
As the economy navigates a complex macroeconomic environment, the data from September paints a nuanced picture of the construction industry: private sector activity appears cautious, whereas public investment is providing critical support, highlighting the value of infrastructure projects as a stabilizing force amid fluctuating economic conditions.