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For total construction dollars spent through August of this year, the contribution by the private sector was 78% compared with 22% for the public sector (i.e., approximately three-quarters to one-quarter).
For residential construction, the spending came almost entirely from the private sector, at 98.8%.
For nonresidential construction, the private sector accounted for 61% and the public sector for 39% (i.e., three-fifths compared with two-fifths).

Where Private Dollars Dominate

  • Manufacturing: The financing of manufacturing construction work is virtually all (99.6%) grounded in the private sector. The August year-to-date change in dollar volume for industrial work was +24.2%.
  • Lodging: Travel accommodation construction spending almost entirely originates in the private sector (97.2% year to date through August). The year-to-date (YTD) dollar volume change in this sub-category was -5.7%.
  • Commercial (i.e., retail, warehouses, restaurants): Again, this sub-category depends almost exclusively on private financing, 96.1%. The dollar volume change for this type of work through August was -11.5%.
  • Office: Year-to-date private sector money allocated for office buildings has been 84.0% versus the public sector at 16.0%. The YTD dollar volume change has been +1.6%.
  • Power (not just electricity projects, but also oil and gas pipelines and storage facilities): The August YYD divide for power construction work was 85.8% private money to 14.2% public. The YTD dollar volume change was +12.6%, with the private portion at +10.0%, while the public share managed a more robust +30.9%.
  • Health Care: The divide for health care in August YTD was 80.1% private and 19.9% public (or four-fifths to one-fifth). The YTD dollar volume change was +6.1%, with the private portion at +6.6% and the public at +3.9%.

Where Public Dollars Dominate

  • Highway and Street: The Census Bureau’s PIP figure on ‘road’ construction in August YTD was comprised almost completely of public funding (99.3%). The YTD dollar volume change has been +7.3%.
  • Public Safety: This is a sub-category that, again, is almost all government-backed (98.7%). Its August YTD dollar volume change was +36.7%.
  • Waste Disposal and Water Supply: These are two more sub-categories almost fully paid for by the public sector (96.3% and 96.0%, respectively). The dollar volume changes YTD in August were +10.0% for sewage/waste disposal and +16.1% for water supply.
  • Educational: Interestingly, for school construction spending, the private versus public divide, at 19.5% and 80.5% respectively (or one-fifth to four-fifths) is almost exactly the opposite of what it is for health care. The YTD dollar volume change has been +9.1%, with private at +10.5% and public at +8.8%.
  • Transportation (air, land, water facilities, and passenger terminals): While spending in this sub-category comes mainly from the public sector (68.6% YTD in August), there is also a substantial private component (31.4%). The dollar volume change YTD has been +3.2%, made up of public and private funds with matching +3.2% gains.