ABC: Nonresidential spending down slightly in November

National nonresidential construction spending decreased 0.1 percent in November, according to an Associated Builders & Contractors (ABC) analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data.

On a seasonally adjusted annualized basis, nonresidential spending totaled $1.14 trillion.

Spending was down on a monthly basis in 11 of the 16 nonresidential subcategories. Private nonresidential spending increased 0.2 percent, while public nonresidential construction spending fell 0.6 percent in November, according to ABC.

“Nonresidential construction spending dipped in November due to a 0.6 percent decline in public-sector activity,” says Anirban Basu, ABC’s chief economist. “Despite the monthly setback, spending is up an impressive 18.1 percent over the past year, with the gains evenly distributed between the public and private sectors, and currently sits just below the all-time high established in October.

Basu adds that manufacturing-related construction now accounts for about 45 percent of the year-over-year increase in nonresidential spending.

“Other predominantly privately financed segments have posted impressive growth in 2023, with educational, health care and power construction all up significantly over the past 12 months, while certain publicly financed categories like highway and street and sewage and waste disposal have also posted strong year-over-year performances,” he says. “With only 24 percent of contractors expecting their sales to decline over the next six months, according to ABC’s Construction Confidence Index, the industry appears set to carry momentum into the new year.”

Related: ABC: Manufacturing activity continues to drive nonresidential growth