Construction spending rose slightly in March, edging up .1%. Private construction drove the increase in spending; government-funded construction fell in the month of March according to the Department of Commerce.

Nationally, total construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $808.1 billion, which is a slight improvement over the $807.3 billion spent in February.

Construction spending has remained flat recently; however, these numbers represent a 6% increase compared to March 2011 which indicates an improving construction spending picture heading into the summer.