Construction spending in May was an estimated seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1.14 trillion, 0.8% below the revised April estimate, according to a report from the U.S. Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce.
From April to May, private construction spending declined 0.3% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $859.3 billion and public construction spending dropped 2.3% to a rate of $284.0 billion. Religious construction was hit hardest over the last month, with spending dropping more than 10 percent. Sewage and waste disposal, transportation, and educational sectors also experienced dips in spending.
Even with the reductions, construction spending is stronger than it was a year ago. The $1.14 trillion spending rate is 2.8 percent higher than the May 2015 estimate of $1.11 trillion. For the first five months of 2016, $438.5 billion has been spent on construction, an 8.2 percent rise above the 405.4 billion spend during the from January to May last year.
Related Stories
Market Data | Jun 15, 2020
International Code Council offers guidance on building re-occupancy for reopening economies
Companies and building managers can access free resources at the Code Council’s Coronavirus Response Center.
Market Data | Jun 12, 2020
6 must reads for the AEC industry today: June 12, 2020
How will museums change in the face of COVID-19 and the patriarch of The Boldt Company dies.
Market Data | Jun 11, 2020
5 must reads for the AEC industry today: June 11, 2020
Istanbul opens largest base-isolated hospital in the world and AIA issues tools for reducing risk of COVID-19 transmission in buildings.
Market Data | Jun 10, 2020
6 must reads for the AEC industry today: June 10, 2020
Singapore's newest residential district and CannonDesign unveils COVID Shield.
Market Data | Jun 9, 2020
ABC’s Construction Backlog Indicator inches higher in May; Contractor confidence continues to rebound
Nonresidential construction backlog is down 0.8 months compared to May 2019 and declined year over year in every industry.
Market Data | Jun 9, 2020
6 must reads for the AEC industry today: June 9, 2020
OSHA safety inspections fall 84% and the office isn't dead.
Market Data | Jun 8, 2020
Construction jobs rise by 464,000 jobs but remain 596,000 below recent peak
Gains in may reflect temporary support from paycheck protection program loans and easing of construction restrictions, but hobbled economy and tight state and local budgets risk future job losses.
Market Data | Jun 5, 2020
7 must reads for the AEC industry today: June 5, 2020
The world's first carbon-fiber reinforced concrete building and what will college be like in the fall?
Market Data | Jun 4, 2020
7 must reads for the AEC industry today: June 4, 2020
Construction unemployment declines in 326 of 358 metro areas and is the show over for AMC Theatres?
Market Data | Jun 3, 2020
Construction employment declines in 326 out of 358 metro areas in April
Association says new transportation proposal could help restore jobs.
