Spending in August 2006 was recorded at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1.2 billion, 0.3 percent above the revised July estimate of $1.196 billion. The August figure is 4.4 percent above the August 2005 estimate of $1.150 billion.

During the first eight months of this year, construction spending amounted to $793.2 billion, 7.2 percent above the $739.9 billion for the same period in 2005.

Spending on private construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $929.1 billion, 0.1 percent above the revised July estimate of $927.9 billion. Residential construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $617 billion in August, 1.5 percent below the July estimate of $626.2 billion. Nonresidential construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $312 billion in August, 3.4 percent above the revised July estimate of $301.7 billion.