U.S. construction spending fell 1.9% in September as residential building weakened, the Census Bureau said Monday, leaving a mixed sector picture as private nonresidential work rose and public outlays edged lower.
Total spending was measured at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $2.1861 trillion. Census revised August's construction estimate to $2.2274 trillion.
Private construction spending fell 2.4% to a $1.6393 trillion annual rate. Residential construction declined 5.5% to $848.8 billion, while nonresidential work increased 1.1% to $790.6 billion. Public construction spending slipped 0.1% to $546.8 billion.
September spending was 2.7% below the estimate for September 2025. Across the first nine months of 2026, construction spending totaled $1.6496 trillion, down 2.9% from the comparable period a year earlier.
