WASHINGTON — National nonresidential construction spending decreased 0.1% in June, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data published by the U.S. Census Bureau. On a seasonally adjusted annualized basis, nonresidential spending totaled $1.241 trillion.

“Nonresidential construction spending declined in June and has now contracted in 6 of the past 7 months,” said ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu. “Recent declines would be worse if not for ongoing increases in public nonresidential spending, which has risen 5.1% over the past year, significantly outperforming the 4.0% annual decline in private nonresidential activity. While ABC members remain optimistic about the second half of the year, according to ABC’s Construction Confidence Index, recent data pertaining to both the construction industry and the broader economy suggest weakness could persist in the months to come.”