US Construction Spending Falls 1.9% in September 2026
Total construction spending dropped to $2.19 trillion in September, down 1.9% from a revised August figure of $2.23 trillion.
U.S. construction spending declined 1.9 percent in September 2026, falling to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $2,186.1 billion, according to data released by the U.S. Census Bureau. The drop follows a revised August 2026 estimate of $2,227.4 billion, which itself reflected a 2.0 percent gain from the prior month.
The September decline was measured with a margin of error of plus or minus 0.7 percentage points, meaning the underlying contraction is statistically significant. The reversal from August's upward revision suggests volatility in construction activity heading into the final quarter of 2026.
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The back-to-back swings — a 2.0 percent rise in August followed by a 1.9 percent drop in September — underscore the uneven pace of investment in the construction sector. Analysts tracking capital expenditures and housing activity will likely scrutinize subsequent monthly releases to determine whether September's pullback represents a temporary correction or the start of a broader softening trend.
Construction spending data serve as a key leading indicator for economic output, employment in the trades, and materials demand across residential, nonresidential, and public infrastructure categories. Month-to-month revisions, such as the adjustment applied to August's figures, are common and can meaningfully shift the overall spending trajectory.
Continue reading at U.S. Census Bureau Economic Briefing Room.
