Today, the Associated General Contractors of America released a new government report revealing interesting insights into construction spending. Ken Simonson, the association's chief economist, provided valuable perspectives on the current state of the construction industry.

Uncover the Dynamics of Construction Spending in October

Residential Construction: A Tale of Two Sectors

In October, private residential spending witnessed a significant increase of 1.5 percent. Single-family homebuilding also showed growth, rising by 0.8 percent. This indicates a positive trend in the single-family housing market. However, multifamily construction edged up only by 0.2 percent in October but faced a decline of 6.8 percent compared to a year earlier. Homeowners' spending on additions and renovations, on the other hand, jumped by a remarkable 2.7 percent for the month and an impressive 18.5 percent year-over-year. This shows the growing demand for home improvements among homeowners.The increase in private residential spending is a positive sign for the construction industry. It suggests that there is still a demand for new and renovated homes. However, the mixed performance of multifamily construction raises concerns about the stability of this sector.

Public Construction: Month-on-Month and Year-on-Year Changes

Public construction spending declined by 0.5 percent in October but managed to rise by 4.5 percent over 12 months. Among the top three segments, highway and street construction slipped by 0.7 percent and 1.2 percent respectively. Education construction dipped 0.4 percent in October but showed a slight increase of 0.6 percent. Transportation spending fell by 0.1 percent in October but witnessed a significant growth of 5.4 percent from a year earlier.These fluctuations in public construction spending highlight the challenges and opportunities in the public infrastructure sector. While some segments are facing declines, others are showing growth, indicating the need for careful planning and allocation of resources.

Private Nonresidential Construction: Mixed Performance

Private nonresidential spending slipped by 0.3 percent in October but managed to post a 3.5 percent year-over-year gain. Among the three largest segments, manufacturing construction remained unchanged from September but showed a substantial increase of 16.3 percent compared to October 2023. Power construction rose by 0.2 percent for the month and 5.3 percent year-over-year. However, commercial construction (including warehouse, retail, and farm) fell by 1.1 percent for the month and 11.2 percent compared to last year.The mixed performance of private nonresidential construction reflects the diverse nature of this sector. While some segments are experiencing growth, others are facing challenges. This calls for a more targeted approach in promoting the growth of specific nonresidential construction sectors.Association officials emphasized the need for the incoming Trump administration and Congress to take action. They urged them to explore ways to accelerate federal permitting reviews for infrastructure and construction projects. Giving federal agencies greater flexibility in complying with new Buy America rules was also a key suggestion. For example, agencies should be able to provide waivers when no domestically produced materials are available. This would help get more construction projects started and boost the construction industry.There is no reason why the federal government cannot hold projects to high standards while completing required reviews in a timely manner. Cutting federal review times and providing more flexibility to agencies will have a positive impact on the construction industry and help drive economic growth.