Updated
Updated · Eye on Housing · May 7
Private residential construction spending rises 1.7% in March 2026
Updated
Updated · Eye on Housing · May 7

Private residential construction spending rises 1.7% in March 2026

8 articles · Updated · Eye on Housing · May 7
  • U.S. Census data showed gains across single-family, multifamily and remodeling, lifting total private residential spending 3.6% from a year earlier after two monthly declines.
  • Single-family spending rose 2.7% but remained 4.2% below March 2025, while multifamily edged up 0.3% and improvement spending increased 0.9%, up 14.3% annually.
  • The rebound came as elevated interest rates and tariff uncertainty continued to weigh on new construction, while aging housing stock supported renovations; private nonresidential spending fell 2.1% year on year.
Why are construction profits shrinking despite record-high spending on new projects?
Is the boom in AI data centers masking a deep crisis in home construction?
Can AI and robotics solve the construction industry's crippling labor shortage in time?