U.S. Construction Spending Slips 0.1% to $2.17 Trillion as Residential Outlays Keep Falling
Updated
Updated · Lesprom Network · Aug 3
U.S. Construction Spending Slips 0.1% to $2.17 Trillion as Residential Outlays Keep Falling
3 articles · Updated · Lesprom Network · Aug 3
Summary
$2,166.5 billion was the annualized pace of U.S. construction spending in June, down 0.1% from May and 3.2% from a year earlier, Census Bureau data showed.
Private construction edged down 0.1% to $1,622.5 billion as residential spending fell 0.3% to $877.1 billion, extending the housing-sector weakness seen in recent months.
Nonresidential private building was more stable at $745.3 billion, up 0.1%, with office construction jumping 2.8% and power rising 0.7% even as manufacturing fell 1.2% and commercial dropped 1.3%.
Public construction was essentially flat at $544.1 billion, with education unchanged at $113.1 billion and highway spending slipping 0.1% to $150.9 billion.
For the first six months of 2026, total construction spending was $1,046.9 billion, down 3.5% from the same period in 2025, underscoring a broader slowdown beyond housing.
Could the ongoing housing construction slump and heavy material tariffs silently drag the broader U.S. economy into an unexpected recession?
As expensive borrowing pushes more households toward renting, will the traditional American dream of single-family homeownership soon become a thing of the past?
With builders slashing prices and offering massive incentives, is now the secret perfect time to buy a new home despite high rates?