US data center construction spending hits record $85B annual rate

Census Bureau data shows U.S. data center construction spending reached a record $85 billion annual rate in August. That is up 73% from a year earlier.

Why it matters: A 73% annual jump shows AI infrastructure spending still accelerating. It adds to the power and grid strain behind the stalled Ratepayer Protection Act, and makes the cost of data center power a growing political issue.