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US data center construction spending jumps 28% in April to record $50.7 billion

US data center construction spending jumps 28% in April to record $50.7 billion

The annualized April total exceeded public transportation construction spending of $49.9 billion, underscoring how rapidly AI-linked infrastructure investment is expanding.

Fact Check
The ABC June 1, 2026 press release, citing U.S. Census Bureau construction spending data, directly confirms data center construction reached $50.7 billion annualized in April 2026, up 28.1% YoY. The claim's '28% jump' aligns with the YoY figure (MoM was +1.9%). The headline phrasing 'jumps 28% in April' is slightly imprecise (it is a YoY comparison, not a one-month jump), but the underlying numbers are accurate. The comparison to $49.9B public transportation spending is reported by the Kobeissi X post but not independently verified in my searches; however, it is plausible given Census construction spending categories.
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Summary

US data center construction spending rose 28% year over year in April to a record annualized rate of $50.7 billion. That put spending on data center buildouts above public transportation construction spending, which came in at $49.9 billion over the same period. The crossover highlights the scale of private capital flowing into digital infrastructure as demand for computing capacity grows.

Terms & Concepts
  • annualized rate: A figure adjusted to reflect a full-year pace.
  • data center: A facility that houses computing and storage systems.