Construction spending rose slightly in the month of August, as government spending offset a slight decline in home building and non-residential construction.

According to a report by the Department of Commerce, spending increased .1 percent, putting the seasonally adjusted annual rate at 1.32 trillion, down .4 percent from a record high in May.  Residential projects fell .7 percent, while nonresidential construction fell .2 percent.  However, public construction increased to its highest level since 2009 with a 2 percent increase.

Spending for federal, state and local projects all increased as part of that 2 percent.  The economy overall saw a growth rate of 4.2 percent annually.