The value of construction put-in-place increased 1.3% (0.3% y/y) during January following a 0.8% December decline, revised from -0.6%. November's figures were revised sharply downward. January's increase was the largest in nine months. A 0.6% rise had been expected in the Action Economics Forecast Survey.

The value of public construction jumped 4.9% (8.0% y/y), the largest monthly rise since early-2004. It was powered by a 12.1% surge (26.3% y/y) in commercial building activity. Highway & street construction, which accounts for roughly one-third of public sector spending, rose 11.8% (12.7% y/y). Health care building gained 7.9% (-5.6% y/y) and educational facility construction rose 2.2% (8.1% y/y). Water supply construction fell 1.1% (+4.6% y/y).

The value of private construction activity rose 0.2% (-2.0% y/y). Residential building slipped 0.3% (-5.6% y/y) as single-family construction dropped 0.7% (-7.2% y/y). The value of improvements eased 0.3% (-8.8% y/y). Multi-family construction jumped 1.4% (12.8% y/y) after four months of strong increase. Nonresidential building activity improved 0.8% (2.4% y/y) after a 0.6% rise. Office construction strengthened 1.8% (7.6% y/y) and commercial construction improved 1.5% (-4.7% y/y). Factory sector building fell 1.0% (+3.7% y/y).

The construction spending figures, some of which date back to 1946, are in Haver's USECON database. The expectations reading can be found in the AS1REPNA database.