Total construction spending increased 0.1 percent in December and rose by 4.8 percent for all of 2013, as a robust market for apartments and single-family houses outweighed downturns in private nonresidential and public projects, according to an analysis of new Census Bureau data by the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC).

“Residential construction ended on a strong note in 2013 and should remain positive for at least the next several months,” says Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist.  “Meanwhile, private nonresidential spending appears to be poised for a rebound, but the short-term outlook for public construction is still negative.”

Construction put in place totaled $930 billion in December, 0.9 percent higher than the November total, which was revised down $5 billion from the initial estimate. For 2013 as a whole, spending was 4.8 percent above the 2012 level, a slowing from the 9 percent gain that year. Private residential construction spending increased by 2.6 percent in December and jumped 18 percent for all of 2013. Private nonresidential spending dipped 0.7 percent for the month and 0.4 percent for the full year. Public construction spending dropped 2.3 percent for the month and 2.8 percent for the year, according to the report.

“The ongoing surge of oil- and gas-related activity should boost several types of private nonresidential construction in 2014,” Simonson adds. “Many regions will experience more work on pipelines, railroads, manufacturing plants, and even fueling facilities for trucks and buses that convert to natural gas. In addition, communities in the drilling areas will get more housing, hotels and retail projects. As a result, private nonresidential spending should grow at a 6- to 10- percent rate in 2014 overall.”

Simonson says he expects less rapid expansion of private residential construction, especially single-family, but that overall residential spending should still increase by around 10 percent. However, he says public construction spending will be level with the 2013 total, if not slightly lower.

“Construction spending would have been even more robust if not for the downturn in public-sector investments last year,” says Stephen E. Sandherr, the association’s chief executive officer. “But the industry and the broader economy stand to benefit if members of Congress can act quickly to pass a number of key infrastructure repair measures.”