National nonresidential construction spending increased 0.1% in September, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors’ analysis of data published by the U.S. Census Bureau. Healthcare construction spending decreased slightly by .6% in September, but has increased .9% over the last 12 months.
Spending was also up on a monthly basis in half of the 16 nonresidential subcategories. Private nonresidential spending decreased .1%, while public nonresidential construction spending was up .4% in September.
“Construction spending inched higher in September, with growth fueled by ongoing infrastructure investment,” said ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu. “Spending accelerated in several publicly funded segments in September, including highway and street, sewage and waste disposal and water supply. The privately funded nonresidential construction segment didn’t perform as well for the month, with spending in that segment contracting for the second time in the past three months.”
