According to the U.S. Census Bureau, construction spending during April 2025 was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $2,152.4 billion, 0.4% (±0.7%) below the revised March estimate of $2,162.0 billion. The April figure is 0.5% (±1.2%) below the April 2024 estimate of $2,163.2 billion.
During the first four months of this year, construction spending amounted to $660.2 billion, 1.4% (±1.0%) above the $651.3 billion for the same period in 2024.
In April, the estimated seasonally adjusted annual rate of public construction spending was $513.5 billion, 0.4% (±1.3%) above the revised March estimate of $511.3 billion.
- Highway construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $146.3 billion, 0.5% (±4.1%) above the revised March estimate of $145.5 billion.
- Educational construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $110.9 billion, 0.1% (±1.5%) below the revised March estimate of $111.0 billion.
Spending on private construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1,638.9 billion, 0.7% (±0.7%) below the revised March estimate of $1,650.8 billion.
- Residential construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $892.8 billion in April, 0.9% (±1.3%) below the revised March estimate of $900.7 billion.
- Nonresidential construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $746.0 billion in April, 0.5% (±0.7%) below the revised March estimate of $750.1 billion.

“A pullback in many types of private nonresidential projects, as well as a sharp drop in homebuilding, contributed to the latest drop in construction spending,” said Ken Simonson, chief economist of the Associated General Contractors of America. “Ever-changing announcements about tariffs on key construction inputs, along with potential retaliatory measures by U.S. trading partners, are making owners hesitant to commit to new projects.”
Association officials are urging the administration to avoid tariffs on key construction inputs such as steel, aluminum and lumber.
“Unless contractors and investors have greater certainty about what costs and demand to expect, private construction is likely to continue declining,” said Jeffrey D. Shoaf, the association’s chief executive officer. “That will make the U.S. less competitive and damage the prospects for economic growth.”