Nonresidential construction spending gains momentum

Nonresidential construction spending totaled $699.7 billion on a seasonally adjusted, annualized basis in October, a 0.3 percent decrease from September’s significantly upwardly revised total, but an increase of 2.6 percent year-over-year according to analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data released today by Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC).

September’s nonresidential spending estimate was revised from $690.5 billion to $701.7 billion, a 1.6 percent increase. August’s estimate received a similar revision, increasing from $696.6 billion to $703.6 billion. Nonresidential spending is now 2.6 percent higher than at the same time one year ago.

“Nonresidential construction spending is up by nearly 3 percent on a year-over-year basis. Certain segments are red hot, including the office and lodging segments, both of which have experienced more than 20 percent spending growth over the past 12 months,” says ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu in a press release. “Both major presidential candidates had discussed investing in infrastructure during their campaign. However, there was a conventional wisdom suggesting that divided government would be the most likely outcome, which would likely have translated into more stalemates and less infrastructure spending. With one party now controlling the U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives and the White House, a meaningful infrastructure package may be more likely.”

You can find a chart and a graph illustrating the most recent nonresidential construction spending below.