“Once you look beyond the stimulus,” Simonson says, “these figures show how uneven and fragile the construction industry remains.”

Private nonresidential spending declined 24.6 percent since April 2009, and the only sector to experience an increase since last year was the power sector, which saw a 1.4 percent rise in spending from $77 billion in April 2009 to $78 billion in April 2010. Spending increased over the month in communication (7.3 percent to $18 billion), manufacturing (2.7 percent to $57 billion) and power (5.2 percent).

“Assuming the economy continues to expand, privately-funded construction should experience a rebound starting in 2011,” Simonson says. “But for now stimulus funding remains the main source of support for nonresidential contractors.”