Recommended Free Tools
U.S. construction spending remained substantial in July 2026, but the market was not broadly expanding: the total fell from June and was below its year-earlier level. Data centers, power and highway work were relative bright spots, while manufacturing and residential construction weakened. The resilience is real, but concentrated—and labor shortages could make projects harder to deliver.
Is the U.S. construction market slowing down?
In July 2026, total U.S. construction spending was running at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $2.158 trillion, according to the Associated General Contractors of America’s analysis of Census Bureau data. That was down 0.5% from June and 3.8% from July 2025. These are nominal spending figures: they describe the dollar value of work, not inflation-adjusted construction volume. The overall figures therefore point to a market that is large but softer than a year earlier, rather than one experiencing broad-based growth. AGC’s July spending analysis was published September 1, 2026.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
The Census Bureau’s Value of Construction Put in Place survey estimates the monthly value of work performed on new structures and improvements in both the private and public sectors. Its survey description explains what the measure covers. The Census construction-spending at-a-glance page listed August 2026 as the latest available month when checked, but the sector figures below are for July; they should not be mistaken for August results.
Which construction sectors are driving demand?
July’s strongest signals came from data centers, power and highway work. The figures below compare year-over-year changes in observed July 2026 spending, not contractor forecasts. Except where stated, the sector growth rates are nominal.
#1 Best Overall
- Valued Carpenter Pencil Set: You will get 2 pcs solid carpenter pencils with 26 piece 2.8 mm refills, 1 replaceable sharpener, 1 plastic storage box.The complete carpenter pencils combination allows you to finish your work faster and more easily
- Deep Hole Marker Pencil: The deep-hole construction pencils adopts 45mm elongated tip design, which is more convenient to mark in the small hole or in other tight areas that other carpenter markers cannot reach
- Carpenter Pencils with Sharpener: The sharpener is screwed into the top of the work pencil, which won't get lost either. Built-in pencil sharpener that keep the lead with pointed and smooth to Improves line of sight in fine work
- Stronger Solid Lead: This work pencil is matched with a 2.8 mm thick lead , which is much thicker and stronger during the drawing process of construction work, it will not break or damage easily
- Marks on Various Surfaces: 3 colors solid construction pencil can marks on various surfaces,such as metal, plastic, wood, paper etc. Ideals for woodworkers, contractors, craftsmen, builders, merchants and masons
| Sector or category | July 2026 change from July 2025 | Change from June 2026 | What the figure indicates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data centers | +57.2% | Strong growth in a fast-expanding part of private construction. | |
| Power, including oil- and gas-related projects | +6.5% | A relative bright spot within private nonresidential construction. | |
| Manufacturing | −21.7% | Declined for a sixth consecutive month. | |
| Private residential | −7.3% | −1.3% | Both the monthly and year-over-year comparisons were negative. |
| Single-family construction | −6.5% | Weaker than a year earlier. | |
| Multifamily construction | −0.9% | Slightly below its year-earlier level. | |
| Private office, including data centers | +21.3% | The increase in the broad category was attributed to data-center construction. | |
| Private office excluding data centers | −10.6% | Ordinary office work fell despite growth in the broader category. | |
| Public construction | +1.7% | −0.2% | Above July 2025, but lower than June. |
| Highway and street construction | +4.5% | −0.2% | The largest public category was up year over year, though down month to month. |
All sector comparisons are from AGC’s analysis of the July 2026 Census spending release. Month-to-month changes are included where the analysis provides them.
Data centers lift the office category—but not ordinary offices
The office figures need a classification caveat: Census private-office spending includes data centers. The broad office category rose 21.3% year over year in July, but AGC attributed the entire increase to data-center work, which climbed 57.2%. Private office construction excluding data centers fell 10.6%. The broad office increase is therefore not evidence that conventional office-building demand was rising.
Rank #2
- Ergonomically Designed: Work in tight areas with a compact design that gets into tough spots
- Compact and Lightweight: Both tools are designed to fit into difficult to reach spaces. The 1/4" impact driver has a length of 5.55 in. and weighs just 2.8 lbs, while the 1/2" drill/driver measures only 7.5 in. and weighs 3.6 lbs
- Both the DEWALT impact driver and electric drill driver feature integrated LED work lights with a convenient 20-second delay, ensuring enhanced visibility in dimly lit or challenging work areas
- One-Handed Loading - Keep one hand free with a 1/4 in. hex chuck that accepts 1 in. bit tips
- Power drill cordless with 1/2" single sleeve ratcheting chuck provides tight bit gripping strength, making bit changes faster and more secure
Power and highways add support, with different funding profiles
Power construction—including oil- and gas-related projects—was up 6.5% from July 2025. Highway and street work, the largest public-construction category, was up 4.5% year over year, despite a 0.2% monthly dip. These gains help explain the market’s resilience, but do not erase declines in other sectors or mean every project type is growing.
Are data centers and infrastructure keeping construction strong?
They are supporting activity, but “strong” needs qualification. AGC chief economist Ken Simonson described data centers, power and highway projects as the three categories propping up construction spending in his September 1, 2026 analysis. That is a description of a few relative bright spots, not evidence that the overall market was growing: total spending was down 3.8% year over year in July, and private nonresidential spending, although up 0.4% from June, remained 3.3% below July 2025.
Rank #3
- 【Great Compatibility】This Katerk 1/4 inch hex shank bit holder is specifically designed for 1/4 inch hex shank drill bits. It's compatible with most 1/4 fast hex handles, hex sockets, various electric screwdrivers, and handheld screwdrivers. The bit holder makes it a valuable addition for any handyman.
- 【Secure and Safe】Built with a secure backup nut design, each drill bit holder securely locks onto your bits, ensuring they stay firmly in place. Additionally, our bit holder incorporates a high-quality steel ball rolling design that holds up to several kilograms of weight, ensuring your various drill bits don't fall off.
- 【Easy One-Handed Operation】The bit holder for impact driver allows you to change bits single-handedly, simplifying your workflow. Its multi-color design further allows for quick identification of the drill bit you need.
- 【Compact and Convenient】Thanks to its compact size, this 1/4 inch bit holder is easy to carry around. The bit holder allows for easy attachment to various tools, making this a convenient addition to your construction accessories. The Katerk bit holder is cast from high-quality alloy material, promising a long product lifespan. Despite its rugged strength, the bit holder remains lightweight, making it portable.
- 【Cool Christmas Gift For Men Stocking Stuffers】 This screwdriver bit holder, driver bit holder, impact bit holder, can be given as a gift to your loved one, especially for anyone involved in construction or electrical work. It's a must-have for stocking stuffers for men and women, tools gifts for dad, tech gadgets for men, gifts for dad, gifts for him, gifts for husband, gifts for boyfriend, cool gadgets for men, and cool gifts for dad.
The sector mix also matters for interpreting who is driving demand. Data centers and power are private nonresidential work; highway and street construction is public work. A rise in one funding and project category cannot be assumed to offset weakness in another on every contractor’s books. The July figures show where spending was holding up, not how evenly that work was distributed among firms or regions.
What contractors expect—and what that survey can tell you
Contractor expectations reinforce the data-center outlook, but they are not a substitute for measured spending. In the AGC/Sage 2026 Construction Hiring and Business Outlook, 65% expected data-center construction to grow and 8% expected it to shrink, producing a 57% net reading. AGC calculates a net reading by subtracting the share expecting a market segment’s available dollar value of projects to shrink from the share expecting it to expand.
Rank #4
- Long Nib and Deep Hole Marker: Our mechanical carpenter pencil with 45mm nib is designed for easy marking of deep holes or narrow areas. These construction pencils are the great choice for woodworking tools, construction tools, carpenter tools, contractor tools, wood carpentry tools and architect tools
- Extra Refills in 2 Colors for Versatile Marking: The construction mechanical pencil comes with 12 extra 2.8mm refills, including 6 red and 6 black refills. The black refill is suitable for light surfaces, while the red wax is perfect for dark surfaces. Our carpenter mechanical pencil makes sure that you'll have an ample supply for extended use
- Built-in Sharpener: Our construction pencil comes with a built-in sharpener to ensure the mechanical pencil tip is always sharp and ready for use. Never buy an extra pencil sharpener again. A great tool for any woodworker pencil, contractor pencils. The refill can easily be extended or retracted with a simple click of the pencils mechanical, allowing you to work more efficiently and accurately
- Portable Clip Design: Our deep hole construction pencil features a portable clip design, easy to carry and attach to your pocket or tool box, so that you can keep the carpenter pencils mechanical close at hand, making it a convenient tool to have on the go. Great gifts choice for carpenters
- Stronger Pencil Lead: The black refills are made of lead, sturdy and smooth. The red refills are made of wax, clear and light. These marking pencils are much thicker and stronger than normal pencils during the marking process of construction work, suitable for various surfaces, such as glasses, metal, boards, floors, walls, furniture, etc. The written marks can be easily wiped with a wet paper towel when needed
The survey was conducted November 4–December 15, 2025, and received 951 responses from construction firms in 49 states and the District of Columbia. It captures respondents’ expectations, not realized project spending or a government forecast. AGC CEO Jeffrey Shoaf said in the January 8, 2026 release that contractors’ overall sentiment had dampened notably compared with the prior year, despite optimism in selected private-sector markets. Read the AGC/Sage outlook for the survey’s context and results.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Labor availability is a delivery risk
Demand does not automatically translate into completed work. In an AGC/NCCER workforce survey conducted in July and August 2026, 42% of respondents said shortages among their own or subcontractors’ workers had delayed projects, and 74% reported at least one significant project delay in the prior year. Among respondents, 87% reported hourly craft openings and 82% salaried openings. Of firms with craft openings, 88% said those jobs were as hard or harder to fill than the year before.
Best Value
- Milwaukee Ink all Fine Point Marker, Black, 4 Per Pack
- 4 per pack Features Clog Resistant Marker Tip Writes through Dusty, Wet and Oily Surfaces Durable Marker Tip for Writing on Concrete, OSB and Rough Surfaces
- Clog resistant tip writes on dusty, wet and oily surfaces and is optimized for rough surfaces such as OSB, cinderblock and concrete
- Hard hat clip- attaches for easy access
- Quick dry time with reduced smearing and marking
Data-center projects can add to competition for skilled labor. Among firms that had worked on a data-center project in the preceding 12 months, 58% said that work increased competition for skilled workers, 49% reported increased wage pressure, and 37% identified worker or subcontractor availability as their biggest challenge in pursuing or delivering data-center projects. These are survey responses from participating firms, not a census of all U.S. contractors. The AGC/NCCER workforce survey release was published September 3, 2026.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
