The U.S. Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce announced that construction spending during October 2011 was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $798.5 billion, 0.8% (±1.6%) above the revised September estimate of $792.1 billion. The October figure is 0.4% (±1.9%) below the October 2010 estimate of $802.0 billion.

During the first 10 months of this year, construction spending amounted to $655.5 billion, 2.9% (±1.1%) below the $675.4 billion for the same period in 2010.

Spending on private construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $518.6 billion, 2.3% (±1.1%) above the revised September estimate of $507.1 billion. Residential construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $239.0 billion in October, 3.4% (±1.3%) above the revised September estimate of $231.2 billion.

Nonresidential construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $279.6 billion in October, 1.3% (±1.1%) above the revised September estimate of $275.9 billion.

In October, the estimated seasonally adjusted annual rate of public construction spending was $279.9 billion, 1.8% (±2.4%)* below the revised September estimate of $285.0 billion. Educational construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $72.2 billion, 1.8% (±4.3%)* below the revised September estimate of $73.6 billion.
 
Highway construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $80.1 billion, 0.4% (±5.6%)* below the revised September estimate of $80.5 billion.