by Calculated Risk on 4/02/2011 08:01:00 PM

Catching up (and feeling much better today) ... the Census Bureau reported yesterday that overall construction spending decreased in February compared to January (seasonally adjusted).

[C]onstruction spending during February 2011 was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $760.6 billion, 1.4 percent (±1.4%)* below the revised January estimate of $771.0 billion. The February figure is 6.8 percent (±1.6%) below the February 2010 estimate of $815.8 billion.

Private construction spending also decreased in February:

Spending on private construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $468.0 billion, 1.4 percent (±1.3%) below the revised January estimate of $474.6 billion. Residential construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $228.5 billion in February, 3.7 percent (±1.3%) below the revised January estimate of $237.2 billion. Nonresidential construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $239.6 billion in February, 0.9 percent (±1.3%)* above the revised January estimate of $237.4 billion.

Click on graph for larger image in graph gallery.

This graph shows private residential and nonresidential construction spending since 1993. Note: nominal dollars, not inflation adjusted.

Residential spending is 66% below the peak in early 2006, and non-residential spending is 42% below the peak in January 2008.

As I mentioned in the weekly summary, the story remains the same - manufacturing is expanding and anything housing related is still struggling.

Earlier:
• Summary for Week ending April 1st