For Release at 10:00 A.M.

EST, Thursday, March 1, 2012

Michael Davis, Linnet Holland, or Trent Langley
(301) 763-1605

CB12-36

JANUARY 2012 CONSTRUCTION AT $827.0 BILLION ANNUAL RATE

The U.S. Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce announced today that construction spending during January
2012 was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $827.0 billion, 0.1 percent (1.1%)* below the revised
December estimate of $827.6 billion. The January figure is 7.1 percent (1.8%) above the January 2011 estimate of
$772.0 billion.

PRIVATE CONSTRUCTION
Spending on private construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $538.7 billion, nearly the same as (1.1%)*
the revised December estimate of $538.7 billion. Residential construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of
$253.6 billion in January, 1.8 percent (1.3%) above the revised December estimate of $249.2 billion. Nonresidential
construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $285.0 billion in January, 1.5 percent (1.1%) below the revised
December estimate of $289.5 billion.

PUBLIC CONSTRUCTION
In January, the estimated seasonally adjusted annual rate of public construction spending was $288.3 billion, 0.2 percent
(1.8%)* below the revised December estimate of $289.0 billion. Educational construction was at a seasonally adjusted
annual rate of $71.6 billion, 0.9 percent (3.4%)* below the revised December estimate of $72.2 billion. Highway
construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $83.7 billion, 0.2 percent (3.8%)* below the revised December
estimate of $83.9 billion.
February 2012 data will be released on April 2, 2012 at 10:00 A.M. EDT.
For more detailed data and methodologies, go to our website:
http://www.census.gov/constructionspending
EXPLANATORY NOTES
In interpreting changes in the statistics in this release, note that month-to-month changes in seasonally adjusted statistics often show movements
which may be irregular. It may take 2 months to establish an underlying trend for total construction and as long as 8 months for specific categories of
construction. The statistics in this release are estimated from several sources and surveys and are subject to sampling variability as well as
nonsampling error including bias and variance from response, nonreporting, and undercoverage. Estimates of the standard errors are provided in
Table 3. Whenever a statement such as "2.3 (3.1) percent above" appears in the text, this indicates the range (-0.8 to +5.4 percent) in which the
actual percent change is likely to have occurred. All ranges given are 90 percent confidence intervals and account only for sampling variability. If a
range does not contain zero, the change is statistically significant. If it does contain zero, the change is not statistically significant; that is, it is
uncertain whether there was an increase or decrease. Statistics for the current month are preliminary estimates subject to revision in following months
as additional data become available. The average absolute percent changes from preliminary estimate to first revision for the major seasonally
adjusted components are as follows: total construction, 1.3 percent; private construction, 1.7 percent; and public construction, 0.8 percent.
* 90% confidence interval includes zero. The U.S. Census Bureau does not have sufficient statistical evidence to conclude that the actual change is different from zero.

Table 1. Value of Construction Put in Place in the United States, Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rate
(Millions of dollars. Details may not add to totals due to rounding.)
Percent change
Jan 2012 from Dec
Jan
2011
2011

Jan
p
2012

Dec
r
2011

Nov
r
2011

Oct
2011

Sep
2011

Jan
2011

Total Construction

827,001

827,628

816,042

801,193

798,972

771,982

-0.1

7.1

Residential

260,642

256,449

252,963

247,713

241,690

247,327

1.6

5.4

Nonresidential
Lodging
Office
Commercial
Health care
Educational
Religious
Public safety
Amusement and recreation
Transportation
Communication
Power
Highway and street
Sewage and waste disposal
Water supply
Conservation and development
Manufacturing

566,358
8,369
34,469
43,130
41,326
86,822
3,744
10,460
15,977
35,013
17,884
99,689
83,783
23,934
14,573
5,988
41,197

571,179
8,706
34,920
44,123
40,963
87,185
3,880
10,433
15,656
34,674
18,022
101,249
83,882
24,138
13,282
6,108
43,957

563,079
8,808
35,363
44,312
40,376
86,185
3,775
10,455
15,874
34,392
16,877
98,792
82,801
23,696
13,873
6,312
41,189

553,480
8,447
34,315
43,506
38,615
86,100
4,042
9,667
15,852
34,488
17,467
94,869
81,668
22,707
14,156
6,721
40,860

557,282
8,659
34,967
44,939
41,051
87,016
4,143
9,828
16,142
35,173
18,158
92,114
81,001
22,790
14,177
6,559
40,565

524,655
8,572
34,258
40,008
37,668
82,065
4,867
9,665
15,706
37,447
17,789
80,111
80,168
23,922
15,334
7,285
29,790

-0.8
-3.9
-1.3
-2.3
0.9
-0.4
-3.5
0.3
2.1
1.0
-0.8
-1.5
-0.1
-0.8
9.7
-2.0
-6.3

7.9
-2.4
0.6
7.8
9.7
5.8
-23.1
8.2
1.7
-6.5
0.5
24.4
4.5
0.1
-5.0
-17.8
38.3

Total Private Construction1

538,670

538,673

529,112

520,746

513,607

482,099

0.0

11.7

Residential
New single family
New multi-family

253,639
113,940
16,205

249,196
111,205
16,096

245,543
108,785
16,270

239,994
107,421
15,223

233,393
106,849
15,270

237,643
108,019
13,505

1.8
2.5
0.7

6.7
5.5
20.0

Nonresidential
Lodging
Office
Commercial
Health care
Educational
Religious
Amusement and recreation
Transportation
Communication
Power
Manufacturing

285,031
7,813
22,792
40,152
30,647
15,256
3,723
6,721
11,080
17,721
87,228
40,392

289,478
8,060
22,959
40,564
30,120
14,999
3,839
6,654
11,316
17,804
88,866
42,918

283,569
8,105
22,875
40,908
29,815
15,231
3,750
6,945
11,212
16,701
86,233
40,201

280,752
7,807
22,817
40,309
29,217
14,668
4,009
7,545
11,018
17,265
84,404
40,197

280,214
7,996
22,808
41,485
30,212
14,313
4,111
7,782
11,097
17,931
81,511
39,466

244,456
8,122
22,145
36,999
27,239
12,128
4,845
5,877
10,751
17,783
68,130
29,173

-1.5
-3.1
-0.7
-1.0
1.7
1.7
-3.0
1.0
-2.1
-0.5
-1.8
-5.9

16.6
-3.8
2.9
8.5
12.5
25.8
-23.2
14.4
3.1
-0.3
28.0
38.5

Total Public Construction2

288,331

288,955

286,930

280,448

285,365

289,883

-0.2

-0.5

Type of Construction

Residential
Nonresidential
Office
Commercial
Health care
Educational
Public safety
Amusement and recreation
Transportation
Power
Highway and street
Sewage and waste disposal
Water supply
Conservation and development
p

7,004

7,254

7,419

7,719

8,297

9,684

-3.4

-27.7

281,327
11,677
2,978
10,678
71,565
10,250
9,256
23,934
12,461
83,684
23,392
14,018
5,890

281,701
11,961
3,560
10,843
72,186
10,218
9,002
23,358
12,383
83,867
23,653
12,717
6,010

279,510
12,488
3,404
10,561
70,954
10,225
8,930
23,180
12,559
82,780
23,037
13,282
6,219

272,728
11,498
3,197
9,398
71,433
9,451
8,307
23,470
10,465
81,654
22,206
13,497
6,616

277,068
12,159
3,454
10,839
72,703
9,632
8,360
24,076
10,604
80,987
22,302
13,500
6,432

280,199
12,113
3,010
10,429
69,937
9,558
9,829
26,696
11,981
80,096
23,455
14,752
7,250

-0.1
-2.4
-16.3
-1.5
-0.9
0.3
2.8
2.5
0.6
-0.2
-1.1
10.2
-2.0

0.4
-3.6
-1.1
2.4
2.3
7.2
-5.8
-10.3
4.0
4.5
-0.3
-5.0
-18.8

Preliminary rRevised

Includes the following categories of private construction not shown separately:

public safety, highway and street, sewage and waste disposal, water supply, and conservation and development.

Includes the following categories of public construction not shown separately:

lodging, religious, communication, and manufacturing.

Table 2. Value of Construction Put in Place in the United States, Not Seasonally Adjusted
(Millions of dollars. Details may not add to totals due to rounding.)
Year-to-date
Jan
Jan Percent
2012
2011
change

Jan
p
2012

Dec
r
2011

Nov
r
2011

Oct
2011

Sep
2011

Jan
2011

Total Construction

56,459

63,355

69,773

73,951

74,421

52,278

56,459

52,278

8.0

Residential

17,354

18,452

21,090

23,644

21,840

16,369

17,354

16,369

6.0

Nonresidential
Lodging
Office
Commercial
Health care
Educational
Religious
Public safety
Amusement and recreation
Transportation
Communication
Power
Highway and street
Sewage and waste disposal
Water supply
Conservation and development
Manufacturing

39,105
697
2,607
3,096
3,233
5,989
285
788
1,164
2,517
1,200
7,279
4,025
1,669
1,018
444
3,093

44,904
726
2,793
3,384
3,349
6,304
315
856
1,242
2,751
1,778
9,054
5,198
1,879
1,005
521
3,751

48,684
734
2,994
3,753
3,439
6,792
335
905
1,351
2,996
1,506
9,135
7,279
2,069
1,187
553
3,657

50,308
704
2,923
3,852
3,310
7,214
365
810
1,403
3,144
1,472
9,052
8,553
2,136
1,292
520
3,555

52,581
722
3,225
4,134
3,667
8,020
367
951
1,485
3,282
1,580
7,916
9,498
2,141
1,274
710
3,611

35,909
714
2,569
2,874
2,930
5,652
369
725
1,115
2,646
1,131
5,916
3,756
1,664
1,074
540
2,235

39,105
697
2,607
3,096
3,233
5,989
285
788
1,164
2,517
1,200
7,279
4,025
1,669
1,018
444
3,093

35,909
714
2,569
2,874
2,930
5,652
369
725
1,115
2,646
1,131
5,916
3,756
1,664
1,074
540
2,235

8.9
-2.4
1.5
7.7
10.3
6.0
-22.8
8.7
4.4
-4.9
6.1
23.0
7.2
0.3
-5.2
-17.8
38.4

Total Private Construction1

37,977

42,531

45,595

48,273

45,546

33,763

37,977

33,763

12.5

Residential
New single family
New multi-family

16,844
7,766
1,216

17,863
8,181
1,253

20,465
9,477
1,362

23,005
9,771
1,287

21,016
10,008
1,306

15,673
7,347
1,021

16,844
7,766
1,216

15,673
7,347
1,021

7.5
5.7
19.1

Nonresidential
Lodging
Office
Commercial
Health care
Educational
Religious
Amusement and recreation
Transportation
Communication
Power
Manufacturing

21,133
651
1,736
2,870
2,379
1,098
284
533
849
1,186
6,418
3,026

24,667
672
1,828
3,087
2,463
1,141
311
550
942
1,760
8,139
3,664

25,131
675
1,950
3,462
2,561
1,215
333
578
1,001
1,491
8,152
3,575

25,268
651
1,989
3,595
2,551
1,220
363
647
988
1,456
8,163
3,500

24,529
666
2,016
3,777
2,661
1,221
365
671
994
1,561
6,936
3,519

18,090
677
1,676
2,641
2,105
875
367
457
816
1,130
5,076
2,184

21,133
651
1,736
2,870
2,379
1,098
284
533
849
1,186
6,418
3,026

18,090
677
1,676
2,641
2,105
875
367
457
816
1,130
5,076
2,184

16.8
-3.8
3.6
8.7
13.0
25.5
-22.6
16.6
4.0
5.0
26.4
38.6

Total Public Construction2

18,482

20,825

24,178

25,678

28,875

18,515

18,482

18,515

-0.2

510

588

625

639

823

696

510

696

-26.7

17,971
872
225
854
4,891
773
631
1,668
861
4,018
1,633
981
436

20,237
964
298
886
5,163
840
692
1,809
915
5,196
1,842
956
513

23,553
1,044
291
878
5,577
886
773
1,995
982
7,276
2,011
1,137
545

25,039
934
258
759
5,994
791
756
2,156
889
8,552
2,091
1,221
512

28,052
1,209
357
1,006
6,799
934
814
2,289
980
9,496
2,096
1,204
699

17,819
893
234
824
4,777
717
658
1,830
840
3,751
1,633
1,033
537

17,971
872
225
854
4,891
773
631
1,668
861
4,018
1,633
981
436

17,819
893
234
824
4,777
717
658
1,830
840
3,751
1,633
1,033
537

0.9
-2.4
-3.8
3.6
2.4
7.8
-4.1
-8.9
2.5
7.1
0.0
-5.0
-18.8

Type of Construction

Residential
Nonresidential
Office
Commercial
Health care
Educational
Public safety
Amusement and recreation
Transportation
Power
Highway and street
Sewage and waste disposal
Water supply
Conservation and development
p

Preliminary rRevised

Includes the following categories of private construction not shown separately:

public safety, highway and street, sewage and waste disposal, water supply, and conservation and development.

Includes the following categories of public construction not shown separately:

lodging, religious, communication, and manufacturing.

Table 3. Coefficients of Variation and Standard Errors by Type of Construction

(Percent)
Coefficient of variation

Standard error

Monthly
estimate

Year-to-date
estimate

Year-to-date
change

Month-to-month
change

Month-to-month
change from prev.
year

Total Construction

0.9

0.8

1.1

0.7

1.1

Residential

3.9

5.3

2.8

3.2

2.8

Nonresidential
Lodging
Office
Commercial
Health care
Educational
Religious
Public safety
Amusement and recreation
Transportation
Communication
Power
Highway and street
Sewage and waste disposal
Water supply
Conservation and development
Manufacturing

1.0
4.4
2.8
3.6
2.0
2.3
7.0
3.5
3.6
2.4
NA
0.6
3.5
3.5
4.0
3.1
1.8

0.8
2.7
2.7
4.3
2.0
2.2
7.6
3.5
3.5
1.7
NA
0.6
2.6
3.6
4.8
2.5
1.8

1.2
5.1
2.5
4.6
2.5
3.2
6.5
4.2
5.0
2.6
NA
0.9
4.8
4.7
6.4
2.6
2.8

0.7
1.4
2.5
2.1
1.4
1.8
4.0
2.5
2.6
1.5
NA
0.4
2.4
2.9
5.0
5.1
0.7

1.2
5.1
2.5
4.6
2.5
3.2
6.5
4.2
5.0
2.6
NA
0.9
4.8
4.7
6.4
2.6
2.8

Total Private Construction

1.1

1.0

1.5

0.7

1.5

5.0
5.0
10.6

1.1
4.0
10.6

1.3
6.8
10.8

0.8
6.0
4.8

1.4
6.0
10.8

Nonresidential
Lodging
Office
Commercial
Health care
Educational
Religious
Amusement and recreation
Transportation
Communication
Power
Manufacturing

1.1
4.6
4.3
4.0
2.5
3.6
7.1
4.2
5.5
NA
0.4
1.9

1.0
2.8
4.3
4.8
2.3
3.0
7.6
3.7
4.4
NA
0.4
1.9

1.5
5.3
3.7
5.1
3.1
5.4
6.5
4.8
17.0
NA
0.6
2.9

0.7
1.4
3.8
2.4
1.3
2.0
4.1
2.5
3.0
NA
0.2
0.7

1.5
5.3
3.7
5.1
3.1
5.4
6.5
4.8
17.0
NA
0.6
2.9

Total Public Construction

1.3

1.1

1.5

1.1

1.5

Residential

3.9

5.3

2.8

3.2

2.8

Nonresidential
Office
Commercial
Health care
Educational
Public safety
Amusement and recreation
Transportation
Power
Highway and street
Sewage and waste disposal
Water supply
Conservation and development

1.4
2.6
7.4
3.0
2.6
3.6
5.0
2.6
4.5
3.5
3.5
4.2
3.1

1.1
2.0
3.6
4.2
2.6
3.6
5.2
1.8
5.8
2.6
3.6
5.1
2.5

1.6
2.5
5.9
4.4
3.6
4.2
7.7
2.6
5.5
4.8
4.8
6.8
2.5

1.1
1.8
3.1
3.5
2.1
2.5
4.0
1.7
5.1
2.4
2.9
5.3
5.2

1.6
2.5
5.9
4.4
3.6
4.2
7.7
2.6
5.5
4.8
4.8
6.8
2.5

Type of Construction

Residential
New single family
New multi-family

NA Not applicable

Table 4. Annual Value of Construction Put in Place in the United States

(Millions of dollars. Details may not add to totals due to rounding.)

2011r

2010

Percent change

Coefficient of
Variation

Total Construction

789,791

803,621

-1.7

0.5

Residential

245,643

248,706

-1.2

2.6

Nonresidential
Lodging
Office
Commercial
Health care
Educational
Religious
Public safety
Amusement and recreation
Transportation
Communication
Power
Highway and street
Sewage and waste disposal
Water supply
Conservation and development
Manufacturing

544,149
8,554
34,516
43,559
39,957
84,797
4,136
9,972
15,539
35,519
17,817
89,682
78,873
23,197
14,000
6,943
37,087

554,915
11,329
37,573
40,522
39,879
88,227
5,208
11,118
16,959
38,232
18,261
78,540
82,657
26,063
15,305
6,937
38,106

-1.9
-24.5
-8.1
7.5
0.2
-3.9
-20.6
-10.3
-8.4
-7.1
-2.4
14.2
-4.6
-11.0
-8.5
0.1
-2.7

0.5
3.2
2.0
2.3
1.7
1.5
4.5
2.3
2.3
1.7
15.0
0.4
1.6
2.3
2.3
2.2
1.3

Total Private Construction1

506,128

500,597

1.1

0.8

Residential
New single family
New multi-family

237,407
106,757
14,726

238,801
112,569
14,668

-0.6
-5.2
0.4

1.1
4.0
9.4

Nonresidential
Lodging
Office
Commercial
Health care
Educational
Religious
Public safety
Amusement and recreation
Transportation
Communication
Power
Sewage and waste disposal
Water supply
Manufacturing

268,721
7,966
22,590
40,118
29,283
13,780
4,105
191
6,553
10,784
17,710
78,045
555
611
36,336

261,796
10,904
24,231
37,647
30,316
13,356
5,156
207
6,541
9,912
18,226
66,601
421
664
37,478

2.6
-26.9
-6.8
6.6
-3.4
3.2
-20.4
-7.7
0.2
8.8
-2.8
17.2
31.8
-8.0
-3.0

0.8
3.3
3.0
2.5
2.3
2.6
4.5
13.9
3.3
5.4
NA
0.3
15.9
9.8
1.4

Total Public Construction2

283,663

303,024

-6.4

0.7

8,236

9,905

-16.9

2.6

275,428
11,926
3,441
10,674
71,017
9,781
8,987
24,735
11,636
78,845
22,642
13,389
6,877

293,119
13,342
2,876
9,562
74,871
10,911
10,418
28,321
11,939
82,548
25,642
14,641
6,910

-6.0
-10.6
19.6
11.6
-5.1
-10.4
-13.7
-12.7
-2.5
-4.5
-11.7
-8.6
-0.5

0.7
1.7
5.9
1.7
1.7
2.3
3.0
1.9
2.4
1.6
2.3
2.4
2.2

Type of Construction

Residential
Nonresidential
Office
Commercial
Health care
Educational
Public safety
Amusement and recreation
Transportation
Power
Highway and street
Sewage and waste disposal
Water supply
Conservation and development

NA Not applicable rRevised

Includes the following categories of private construction not shown separately:
highway and street, and conservation and development.

Includes the following categories of public construction not shown separately:

lodging, religious, communication, and manufacturing.