Total construction spending nationwide in March was 6.7 percent lower than a year ago and 37 percent lower than the March 2006 peak, according to a report from the Associated General Contractors of America.

However, on a month-to-month basis, construction spending increased by 1.4 percent to $769 billion, bouncing back from an 11-year low in March.

"It is encouraging to see increases in construction spending across most nonresidential categories in March," said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. "Considering how much construction spending has declined during the past five years, however, we are still a long way from anything that can be labeled a recovery."