What do these series add to the company filings?

The filings show what twenty-one companies spent. The national accounts show the whole economy: every data-center builder including the private ones, and every buyer of computing equipment. Where the two move together the build is broad; where they diverge, it is concentrated in the companies on the ledger.

Why are some values marked preliminary or revised?

The Census Bureau publishes each month’s construction figure and then revises it in the following two releases. The latest points are drawn hollow and labelled so a reader knows they will move.

What does seasonally adjusted annual rate mean?

The month’s or quarter’s spending, adjusted for the usual seasonal pattern and scaled to what a full year at that pace would be. It makes months comparable with each other and with annual figures.

Where are imports and electricity?

On their own pages: hardware imports under Supply chain, electricity demand under Power.

EconomyThe agencies’ releases fetched October 30, 2026

The build in the national accounts

In Aug 2026, private data-center construction in the United States ran at an annual rate of $85 billion, +73.2% on a year earlier (a preliminary figure). The economy’s investment in information processing equipment reached $933.9 billion at an annual rate in Q3 2026, +40.8% on a year earlier. Computers and peripherals were $504.1 billion of it, +70.5% on a year earlier.

Sources, method and freshnessThe agencies’ releases fetched October 30, 2026

U.S. Census Bureau and Bureau of Economic Analysis, each series as published and credited beneath its chart; both are U.S. government works in the public domain.

Cite as The Capex Report, The build in the national accounts, releases fetched October 30, 2026. See also hardware imports and electricity demand.

How fast is data-center construction growing?

Monthly, USD millions, seasonally adjusted annual rate

Data center construction spending, United States

Aug 2026 (preliminary)$85 billion

Value of private construction put in place, data centers, seasonally adjusted annual rate. The Census Bureau's monthly construction spending release; the latest two months carry preliminary and revised flags and move with later releases. Latest observation Aug 2026; fetched October 30, 2026. The 3 most recent points are preliminary or revised and drawn hollow.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Value of Construction Put in Place. U.S. Census Bureau, Construction Spending (C30), private construction by type, seasonally adjusted annual rate.

How much is the economy investing in information processing equipment?

Quarterly, USD billions, seasonally adjusted annual rate

Private investment in information processing equipment, United States

Q3 2026$933.9 billion

Gross private domestic fixed investment, nonresidential equipment, information processing equipment: computers and peripherals, communication equipment and related. Nominal dollars at a seasonally adjusted annual rate; the national-accounts counterpart of the companies' cash capex on servers and network gear. Latest observation Q3 2026; fetched October 30, 2026.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, via FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, National Income and Product Accounts, via FRED series Y034RC1Q027SBEA.

Of which, computers and peripherals?

Quarterly, USD billions, seasonally adjusted annual rate

Private investment in computers and peripheral equipment, United States

Q3 2026$504.1 billion

Gross private domestic fixed investment, nonresidential, computers and peripheral equipment: the servers, storage and peripherals within information processing equipment, excluding communication equipment and software. Nominal dollars at a seasonally adjusted annual rate. Latest observation Q3 2026; fetched October 30, 2026.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, via FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, National Income and Product Accounts, via FRED series B935RC1Q027SBEA.

Questions this page answers

What do these series add to the company filings?: The filings show what twenty-one companies spent. The national accounts show the whole economy: every data-center builder including the private ones, and every buyer of computing equipment. Where the two move together the build is broad; where they diverge, it is concentrated in the companies on the ledger.
Why are some values marked preliminary or revised?: The Census Bureau publishes each month’s construction figure and then revises it in the following two releases. The latest points are drawn hollow and labelled so a reader knows they will move.
What does seasonally adjusted annual rate mean?: The month’s or quarter’s spending, adjusted for the usual seasonal pattern and scaled to what a full year at that pace would be. It makes months comparable with each other and with annual figures.
Where are imports and electricity?: On their own pages: hardware imports under Supply chain, electricity demand under Power.