Nonresidential construction spending down again in March, ABC reports

by anthony_capkun_2 | 26 May 2026 9:14 am

 

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National nonresidential construction spending decreased 0.2% in March 2026, according to Associated Builders and Contractors’[2] analysis of data published by the U.S. Census Bureau.

“Nonresidential construction spending contracted yet again in March,” said ABC chief economist Anirban Basu. “While a large portion of the ongoing decline is due to steadily falling manufacturing-related construction activity, weakness is becoming more widespread.”

On a seasonally adjusted annualized basis, nonresidential spending totaled $1.244 trillion.

On a monthly basis, spending was down in nine of the 16 nonresidential subcategories.

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Both public and private nonresidential spending were down 0.2% in March.

“Both public and private sector activity fell in March, and the latter is now down more than 2% on a year-over-year basis,” Basu added. “With the exception of the ongoing boom in data center construction (+34.3% year over year), there are few sources of momentum.”

Source URL: https://www.metalconstructionnews.com/news/nonresidential-construction-spending-down-again-in-march-abc-reports/

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