Total nonresidential construction spending increased 0.9 percent in November to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $555.7 billion, according to the Jan. 3 report by the U.S. Commerce Department. However, total nonresidential spending is down 0.1 percent from one year ago. (see graph).

Private nonresidential construction spending was unchanged for the month, but is 4.5 percent higher than November 2010. Public nonresidential construction jumped 1.8 percent in November, but is still down 4.4 percent year-over-year.

Nine of the sixteen nonresidential construction subsectors posted increases in spending for the month, including power, up 5.1 percent; sewage and waste disposal, 3 percent higher; public safety, up 2 percent; health care, 1.9 percent higher; and highway and street construction, up 1.9 percent.  Four subsectors experienced increases in spending from one year ago, including manufacturing construction, up 13.3 percent; commercial construction, 11.4 percent higher; power construction, up 6.5 percent; and education-related construction, 3.9 percent higher.

Seven nonresidential construction subsectors had decreases in spending for the month, including conservation and development, down 11.6 percent; communication, 4.9 percent lower; water supply, down 4.3 percent; religious, 4.3 percent lower; and amusement and recreation-related construction, down 3.5 percent. Twelve subsectors are down from November 2010, including conservation and development construction, down 23.3 percent; religious construction, 23.1 percent lower; lodging construction, down 19 percent; water supply construction, 10.6 percent lower; and communication-related construction, down 9.4 percent.

Residential construction spending increased 1.8 percent in November, and rose 2 percent during the last twelve months. Overall, total construction spending – which includes both nonresidential and residential – rose 1.2 percent in for the month, and is 0.5 percent higher thatn November 2010.