The following is the unedited transcript of the news release from the Department of Commerce.

During the first 3 months of this year, construction spending amounted to $253.5 billion, 9.2 percent (±2.1%) above the $232.1 billion for the same period in 2005.

PRIVATE CONSTRUCTION

Spending on private construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $940.8 billion, 1.1 percent (±1.4%)* above the revised February estimate of $930.9 billion. Residential construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $672.9 billion in March, 1.6 percent (±1.3%) above the revised February estimate of $662.6 billion. Nonresidential construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $267.9 billion in March, 0.1 percent (±1.4%)* below the revised February estimate of $268.3 billion.

PUBLIC CONSTRUCTION

In March, the estimated seasonally adjusted annual rate of public construction spending was $258.2 billion, 0.2 percent (±2.2%)* above the revised February estimate of $257.8 billion. Educational construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $68.6 billion, 0.8 percent (±4.5%)* below the revised February estimate of $69.2 billion. Highway construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $69.4 billion, 0.4 percent (±5.6%)* below the revised February estimate of $69.7 billion.

Available at:
http://www.census.gov/const/C30/release.pdf