Construction spending rose modestly in December to its highest level since March 2009, as a jump in private residential projects offset weakness in public construction.
Construction spending was up 0.1 percent to an annual rate of $930.5 billion, the Commerce Department said on Monday. Economists polled by Reuters had expected an increase of 0.2 percent.
Construction spending in November was revised to show a 0.8 percent rise instead of the previously reported 1.0 percent increase.
The December Construction spending data was buoyed by a 2.6 percent jump in private residential construction. Overall private Construction spending increased 1.0 percent to an annual rate of $663.9 billion, the highest level since December 2008.
Public Construction spending, however, fell 2.3 percent, its biggest drop in a year, with state and local outlays falling 2.7 percent. Federal Construction spending was up 2.0 percent in the month.