Healthcare construction spending decreased in March 1.8% and has decreased 1.6% compared to this time last year, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors’ analysis of data published by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Spending was down on a monthly basis in 11 of the 16 nonresidential subcategories. Private nonresidential spending fell .8%, while public nonresidential construction spending was down .2% in March.
“Nonresidential construction spending fell sharply in March, with declines spread across virtually every private subsector,” said ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu. “Data center investments, which accounted for more than 70% of the increase in private nonresidential construction spending between March 2024 and March 2025, are perhaps the only remaining source of industry momentum. Manufacturing construction, while still elevated, has wavered in recent months. Most commercial segments remain subdued under the weight of high borrowing costs and tight lending standards. Residential construction continues to slide.”
