NAHB analysis of Census Construction Spending data shows that total private residential construction spending for August continued to increase, rising to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $390 billion. On a month-over-month basis, private single-family spending was $219 billion, up by 0.7% over the revised July estimate. Private multifamily spending increased to $53 billion, up by 4.8%, reversing the decline in July.
Annually, multifamily spending rose 25% from the revised August 2014 estimate, and spending on single-family construction was 14% higher.
August Construction Spending Climbs at Fastest Rate Since 2006
The NAHB-constructed spending index indicates that recent gains have been driven by the steady increase in multifamily construction spending. The pace of the multifamily spending is gradually slowing. NAHB anticipates accelerating growth for single-family spending in 2015.
The pace of total nonresidential construction spending increased by 0.3% monthly in August, and the annual increase from the revised August 2014 estimate was 12.3%. The largest contribution to this year-over-year nonresidential spending gain was made by the class of manufacturing-related construction (58% increase), followed by lodging (32% increase) and amusement/recreation (30% increase).
Nonresidential Construction Spending Grows for Seventh Consecutive Month
