construction spending in the us decreased in december with declines in both residential and nonresidential outlays total construction spending fell 04 in december compared with the previous month swinging from a 05 rise in november according to data from the commerce department released wednesday novembers construction spending data was upwardly revised from an initial estimate of a 02 increase economists polled by the wall street journal expected construction spending to be unchanged from the previous month spending on residential construction declined 03 on month outlays on singlefamily projects dropped 23 in a further sign of a pullback in housing construction amid the current downturn