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, Census Bureau data show.
U.S. construction spending declined 1.9 percent in September 2026 to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $2,186.1 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau reported, retreating from a revised August 2026 estimate of $2,227.4 billion.
The month-over-month decline carries a margin of error of plus or minus 0.7 percentage points, meaning the drop is statistically significant at the reported level. August's figure was itself revised upward, with that month recording a 2.0 percent gain, suggesting the sector had experienced a brief surge before pulling back.
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The back-to-back swing — a 2.0 percent rise in August followed by a 1.9 percent contraction in September — points to volatility in construction activity rather than a sustained directional trend. Analysts tracking the sector will watch subsequent monthly revisions closely, as Census Bureau construction estimates are subject to revision as more complete data are collected.
Construction spending is a broad indicator encompassing residential, nonresidential, and public-sector projects. A reading above $2.1 trillion on an annualized basis still reflects historically elevated activity, even as the September retreat signals potential headwinds from financing costs or project delays.
Continue reading at U.S. Census Bureau Economic Briefing Room.
