Overall construction spending posted a slight 0.9% month-over-month increase in August but remained 1.7% below August 2025 levels, according to a recent analysis of new government data by the Associated General Contractors of America.
Total spending hit a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $2.20 trillion.
For bulk fleets that transport critical materials like aggregates, cement, and asphalt, the latest numbers offer a mixed outlook. While the monthly uptick is a positive sign, broader economic headwinds threaten heavy infrastructure and commercial projects, the association indicated. “It is encouraging to see several construction segments stabilized or turned positive in August,” Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist, said in a news release.
“However, all of these categories remain at risk of stagnating or shrinking as workforce shortages continue to grow, materials costs and interest rates continue to increase, and gridlock in Congress continues to undermine federal funding for highway and transit programs.”
Segment breakdown for construction haulers
Bulk transporters monitoring specific project types should note the varying performance across key sectors:
- Highway and street: This essential category for aggregate haulers inched up 0.1% from July and remained 4.4% higher than August 2025.
- Power and oil/gas: Spending on power-related projects rose 0.9% for the month and is up nearly 10% over the past 12 months.
- Sewage and waste disposal: Public spending on these structures climbed 0.2% from July, representing a 1.3% year-over-year increase.
- Manufacturing: Construction was unchanged from July following a string of declines, remaining 20% below the year-ago total.
- Private residential: This segment rose 1.1% for the month but lagged 4.8% below August 2025 levels.
Economic headwinds and funding threats
The most immediate challenge for material haulers is the looming threat to federal infrastructure funding. A short-term federal highway funding extension that recently took effect omitted key initiatives like the Bridge Formula Program, which will lead to a decrease in federal infrastructure funding, AGC reported.
Assocation officials are urgently calling on Congress to pass a long-term highway funding bill immediately following Election Day.
“Congress is leaving until November without providing adequate funding for needed highway improvements,” AGC CEO Jeffrey D. Shoaf noted. “The current short-term extension leaves some programs short of money. Congress needs to make long-term legislation that includes sufficient funding a top priority when they return.”
