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Construction spending across the country was down from a month previous at the end of July, but up slightly from the same time last year.

According to data released by the U.S. Census Bureau today, construction spending during July was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $789.5 billion, 1.3 percent below the revised June estimate of $799.8 billion. The July figure is 0.1 percent above the July 2010 estimate of $789 billion.

Private construction took a dip in July, according to the census data, but not nearly as much as public construction spending fell. Spending on private construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $514.5 billion, 0.9 percent below the revised June estimate of $519 billion. Additionally, residential construction ended July at an annual rate of $67.2 billion, 1.4 percent below the June number.

Public construction spending ended July at an annual estimated rate of $275 billion, 2.1 percent below the June estimate of $280.2 billion.

During the first seven months of 2011, construction spending has amounted to $435.5 billion, 3.5 percent below the $451 billion for the same period in 2010.