outlays for construction projects rose 04 in november at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 163 trillion the commerce department reported monday economists polled by the wall street journal had expected a 07 increase spending in october was revised up to a 04 gain from the prior estimate of a 02 rise over the past year construction spending is up 93 residential construction rose 09 in november and is up 16 over the past year spending on public construction projects fell 02 and is down 09 over the past 12 months nonresidential construction was up flat last month and is up 34 over the past year office construction is down 321 over the past 12 months