1325
1250
1400
/gid00014/gid00028/gid00052/gid00011/gid00048/gid00041/gid00032/gid00002/gid00048/gid00034/gid00163/gid00001/gid00174/gid00133/gid00136/gid00011/gid00048/gid00039/gid00052/gid00002/gid00043/gid00045/gid00163/gid00001/gid00174/gid00133/gid00136 /gid00337/gid00131/gid00163/gid00133/percent.oldstyle
SOURCE: DEPT. OF COMMERCE
The dollar value of total construction
put-in-place showed a monthly
escalation rate of 0.2% in August,
according to the U.S. Dept. of Commerce’s
seasonally adjusted data. On a yearly basis, total
construction was 1.6% lower than in September
2024. Y early private-sector construction fell
2.9%, and public work increased 2.7%. Non-
residential construction in the private market
fell 4% over the past year, while public non-
residential work climbed 2.4%.
TOTAL CONSTRUCTION
Seasonally adjusted rate in ($) billions
SOURCE: DEPT. OF COMMERCE. NON-SEASONALL Y ADJUSTED CONSTRUCTION PUT-IN-PLACE. DETAILS MA Y NOT ADD UP TO TOT AL SINCE ALL TYPES OF CONSTRUCTION ARE NOT SHOWN SEPARA TEL Y.
Non-Seasonally Adjusted
Total Construction*
CONSTRUCTION VALUE
YEAR-TO-DATE, $ BIL.
CONSTRUCTION VALUE
YEAR-TO-DATE, $ BIL.
2025
AUG.
2025
AUG.
2024
AUG.
2024
AUG.
% CHG.
MONTH
% CHG.
MONTH
% CHG.
YEAR
% CHG.
YEAR
TOTAL PUBLIC 337.65 325.86 +1.9 +3.6
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS 7.94 7.38 –0.5 +7.6
OFFICE 11.13 11.15 +1.2 –0.2
COMMERCIAL 4.58 3.37 –3.7 +35.7
HEALTH CARE 10.43 9.25 –2.7 +12.8
EDUCATIONAL 75.96 74.95 –1.3 +1.3
PUBLIC SAFETY 12.67 12.03 +0.7 +5.3
AMUSEMENT
AND RECREATION 15.38 13.97 –0.7 +10.1
TRANSPORTATION 31.96 29.92 +3.6 +6.8
POWER 11.54 12.95 +6.0 –10.9
HIGHWAY AND STREET 92.43 93.24 +3.7 –0.9
SEWAGE AND
WATER DISPOSAL 32.36 28.62 +3.2 +13.1
WATER SUPPLY 21.51 20.24 +3.0 +6.3
CONSERVATION AND
DEVELOPMENT 7.67 7.36 +6.5 +4.2
MANUFACTURING 148.23 154.85 +0.6 –4.2
TOTAL PRIVATE 1,100.32 1,137.86 +1.0 –3.3
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS 607.72 627.32 +1.4 –3.1
LODGING 15.06 15.77 +1.9 –4.9
OFFICE 59.13 57.78 +1.9 +2.3
COMMERCIAL 75.65 86.82 +0.8 –12.9
HEALTH CARE 35.18 36.18 +1.2 –2.8
EDUCATIONAL 16.55 17.55 –0.5 –5.7
RELIGIOUS 3.13 2.69 +2.2 +16.1
AMUSEMENT
AND RECREATION 12.65 12.77 +1.7 –0.9
TRANSPORTATION 12.49 13.03 –1.7 –4.2
COMMUNICATION 18.35 18.60 +0.1 –1.3
POWER 93.08 91.53 –0.1 +1.7
1,437 .97
2025
AUG. 1,463. 72
2024
AUG. +1.3
% CHG.
MONTH –1.8
% CHG.
YEAR
CONSTRUCTION ECONOMICS
*Dept. of Commerce Data has not been updated since the release of August data. enr.com January 19, 2026 ■ ENR ■ 23
ENR’s 20-city average cost indexes, wages and materials prices.
Historical data for ENR’s 20 cities can be found at ENR.com/ economics ENR’s 20-city average cost indexes, wages and materials prices.
Historical data for ENR’s 20 cities can be found at ENR.com/ economics Construction
Cost Index
ANNUAL
INFLATION RATE
1913=100 INDEX VALUE MONTH YEAR
CONSTRUCTION COST 14118.53 0.0% +2.8%
COMMON LABOR 26554.74 0.0% +2.7%
WAGE $/HR. 50.45 0.0% +2.7%
The Construction Cost Index annual escalation rose
2.8%, while the monthly component showed no
change.
Building
Cost Index
ANNUAL
INFLATION RATE
1913=100 INDEX VALUE MONTH YEAR
BUILDING COST 8764.76 0.0% +4.2%
SKILLED LABOR 12489.85 +0.1% +5.2%
WAGE $/HR. 69.32 +0.1% +5.2%
The Building Cost Index was up 4.2% on an annual
basis, while the monthly component held steady.
Materials
Cost Index
MONTHL Y
INFLATION RATE
1913=100 INDEX VALUE MONTH YEAR
MATERIALS COST 6496.34 0.0% +3.1%
CEMENT $/TON 302.47 –1.8% +10.2%
STEEL $/CWT 121.47 –1.5% +8.6%
LUMBER $/MBF 865.26 +3.4% +1.7%
The Materials Cost Index showed no change in
January.
+2.8%
JAN. 2026
+4.2%
JAN. 2026
0.0%
JAN. 2026
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