Construction Spending Rebounds In October, Led By Nonresidential
Arlington, VA - Total construction spending edged higher in October, as gains in public and private project types outmatched decreases in single- and multifamily residential outlays, according to a new analysis of federal construction spending data released
by the Associated General Contractors of America.
Officials noted that public sector investments would likely rise in the near future because of the recently-passed infrastructure bill, but cautioned that labor shortages and supply chain problems were posing significant challenges for the industry.
“It is encouraging to see such a broad-based pickup in spending on nonresidential projects in the latest month,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “But the construction industry still faces major challenges
from workforce shortages and supply-chain bottlenecks.”
Construction spending in October totaled $1.60 trillion at a seasonally adjusted annual rate, 0.2 percent above the September rate and 8.6 percent higher than in October 2020. Year-to-date spending in the first 10 months of 2021 combined increased 7.5
percent from the total for January-October 2020.
Among the 16 nonresidential project types the Census Bureau reports on, all but two posted spending increases from September to October. Total public construction spending rose 1.8 percent for the month, while private nonresidential spending inched up
0.2 percent. However, for the first 10 months of 2021 combined, nonresidential spending trailed the January-October 2020 total by 4.7 percent, with mixed results by type.
Combined private and public spending on electric power and oil and gas projects--the largest nonresidential segment--declined 0.6 percent for the month and lagged 2020 year-to-date total by 1.7 percent. But the other large categories all rose in October.
Highway and street construction spending increased 2.4 percent for the month, though the year-to-date total lagged the same months of 2020 by 0.8 percent. Education construction rose 0.2 percent in October but trailed the 2020 year-to-date total by
9.2 percent. Commercial construction--comprising warehouse, retail, and farm structures--was nearly unchanged from September to October but was 1.9 percent higher for the first 10 months combined than in January-October 2020.
Residential construction spending declined for the second month in a row, slipping 0.5 percent from the rate in September. Nevertheless, the year-to-date total for residential spending was 24.2 percent higher than in the same months of 2020. Spending
on new single-family houses decreased 0.8 percent for the month but outpaced the 2020 year-to-date total by 25.9 percent. Multifamily construction spending dipped 0.1 percent in October but topped the 2020 year-to-date total by 16.6 percent.
Association officials said that spending on many categories of public construction is likely to increase soon as the investments from the Bipartisan Infrastructure bill begin to flow. But they cautioned that the supply chain challenges and labor shortages
were impacting construction schedules and budgets and prompting some owners to delay or cancel projects. They urged the Biden administration to explore new ways to relieve shipping delays and to invest more in career and technical education programs
that serve as a pipeline into construction careers.
“Getting a handle on supply chains and encouraging more people to work in construction will go a long way in helping this industry recover,” said Stephen E. Sandherr, the association’s chief executive officer.
About The Associated General Contractors Of America
The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) is a leading association for the construction industry. AGC represents more than 26,000 firms, including over 6,500 of America’s leading general contractors, and over 9,000 specialty-contracting firms. More than 10,500 service providers and suppliers are also associated with AGC, all through a nationwide network of chapters. To learn more, visit www.agc.org.