by Calculated Risk on 11/01/2017 11:24:00 AM

Earlier today, the Census Bureau reported that overall construction spending increased in September:

Construction spending during September 2017 was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1,219.5 billion, 0.3 percent above the revised August estimate of $1,216.0 billion. The September figure is 2.0 percent above the September 2016 estimate of $1,195.6 billion.

Private spending decreased, and public spending increased, in September:

Spending on private construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $942.7 billion, 0.4 percent below the revised August estimate of $946.2 billion. ...

In September, the estimated seasonally adjusted annual rate of public construction spending was $276.8 billion, 2.6 percent above the revised August estimate of $269.8 billion.
emphasis added

Click on graph for larger image.

This graph shows private residential and nonresidential construction spending, and public spending, since 1993. Note: nominal dollars, not inflation adjusted.

Private residential spending has been increasing, but is still 24% below the bubble peak.

Non-residential spending is now 3% above the previous peak in January 2008 (nominal dollars).

Public construction spending is now 15% below the peak in March 2009, and 5% above the austerity low in February 2014.

The second graph shows the year-over-year change in construction spending.

On a year-over-year basis, private residential construction spending is up 10%. Non-residential spending is down 4% year-over-year. Public spending is down 2% year-over-year.

This was above the consensus forecast of a 0.1% increase for September, however private spending for previous months was revised down slightly - and public spending revised up.