by Calculated Risk on 1/03/2018 11:59:00 AM

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

Construction spending during November 2017 was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1,257.0 billion, 0.8 percent above the revised October estimate of $1,247.1 billion. The November figure is 2.4 percent above the November 2016 estimate of $1,227.0 billion.

Both private and public spending increased in November:

Spending on private construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $964.3 billion, 1.0 percent above the revised October estimate of $955.1 billion. ...

In November, the estimated seasonally adjusted annual rate of public construction spending was $292.7 billion, 0.2 percent above the revised October estimate of $292.0 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 22% below the bubble peak.

Non-residential spending has been declining over the last year, but is 5% above the previous peak in January 2008 (nominal dollars).

Public construction spending is now 10% below the peak in March 2009, and 11% 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 8%. Non-residential spending is down 3% year-over-year. Public spending is up 2% year-over-year.

This was above the consensus forecast of a 0.6% increase for November.