Despite a downturn in overall construction activity, private nonresidential construction spending was up 0.8 percent in July – the first increase since March 2009, according to today's report by the U.S. Census Bureau.

However, on year-over-year basis, private nonresidential construction spending is down 23.7 percent.

Total nonresidential construction spending – which includes both privately and publicly financed construction – was down 0.3 percent compared to June and 16.6 percent from a year ago. Total nonresidential construction spending now stands at $554.6 billion.

Residential construction spending was down 2.5 percent compared to June, but up 6 percent compared to July 2009. Public nonresidential construction spending was down 1.3 percent for the month and 8.6 percent lower from the same time last year.

Overall, total construction spending – which include both residential and nonresidential – was down for the third straight month at 1 percent in July, and is down 10.7 percent from July 2009.