US construction spending rose in August as data-center projects kept growing

AGC's analysis of government data, published on 1 October 2026, shows construction spending rose 0.9% in August but was still 1.7% below a year earlier. Data-center and power projects kept growing, while manufacturing and residential construction stayed below last year's levels. Construction Dive separately reported that data-center construction spending raced further ahead in August.

What it means AI infrastructure is now holding up US construction activity while other sectors contract, a concentration risk for contractors.