March 2026 reported total data center spending of $9.5 billion, bringing the year-to-date (YTD) total to $46.5 billion.
The latest total is well above the comparable level of a year ago when 2025 YTD starts were just $7.3 billion.
Year-to-date spending has been concentrated in along the traditional “rust belt” states from Illinois through Ohio. Collectively these three states have seen more than $22 billion of new data center starts in the first quarter of the year.
This exclusive data center report was prepared by ConstructConnect Chief Economist, Michael Guckes, and Associate Economist, Devin Bell.
March 2026 reported total data center spending of $9.5 billion, bringing the year-to-date (YTD) total to $46.5 billion. The latest total is well above the comparable level of a year ago when 2025 YTD starts were just $7.3 billion.
The latest full quarter results are similar to the explosive growth reported in 4Q2025 when starts totaled an astonishing $44.6 billion, a figure was that was six-times above the historical quarterly average of just under $7.2 billion.
Projections based on 3-month and 12-month averages put monthly spending in 2026 on track for $186 billion and $121 billion, respectively.
The fundamental pillars that are enabling today’s data center growth include access to capital, labor, and energy availability. Financial markets continue to provide ample cash to the industry in most cases.
Among the hyperscalers including Amazon, Google and Meta, a combination of free cash along with ample debt market capital continues to fund multi-billion-dollar projects.
In late April, the Presidential Administration utilized the Defense Production Act to help address bottlenecks in the nation’s energy infrastructure. This will offer financial and regulatory support to a broad array of power grid equipment from electrical transformers to liquified natural gas systems.
The latest legislative action will complement recently proposed legislation that would reduce the EPA’s emissions oversight of power plants, refineries and oil/gas suppliers.
The 12-month moving average for datacenter starts spending through March 2026 was $10.1 billion, as shown in the chart above. Average monthly data center spending increased over 600% in just the last 2 years. If this pace holds steady, full-year spending for 2026 would reach $121 billion. Image and Data: ConstructConnect
Year-to-date spending has been concentrated in along the traditional “rust belt” states from Illinois through Ohio. Collectively these three states have seen more than $22 billion of new data center starts in the first quarter of the year.
Following behind is the southern-half of the Eastern Seaboard. Between Alabama through Virginia there have been over $20 billion in new data centers that broke ground in the year through March.
In the Plains, Mountains and West Coast regions activity has been far more tepid this year.
Texas has reported $1.3 billion in new starts this year followed distantly by Arizona at $400 million. No other state in any of these regions has reported more than $100 million in new data center starts.
Year-to-date spending has been concentrated in along the traditional “rust belt” states from Illinois through Ohio. Collectively these three states have seen more than $22 billion of new starts in the first quarter of the year. Following behind is the southern-half of the Eastern Seaboard. Image and Data: ConstructConnect
A forward look at projects using ConstructConnect’s Project Intelligence “CCPI” database shows a strong pipeline of data center projects in some phase of late-stage preconstruction with an anticipated start date between April and December 2026.
At present the sum of these projects totals $63.2 billion. This excludes the unusually massive, multi-phased “Project Kestrel” which could be many times bigger than the largest data centers in history.
However, it’s important to note that these projects are in various stages of preconstruction and are not guaranteed to break ground.
Among Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas, $28 billion of projects are anticipated, with Texas receiving the vast majority of the spending. Lastly, another $22 billion of projects are situated along the Eastern Seaboard.
In one important way the geographic distribution of anticipated projects breaks from past trends.
Over $28 billion in data center projects, roughly one-third of all projects in our analysis by value, are expected to break ground in the remainder of this year. These projects are located in the geographic box formed by the states of Montana, Utah, Minnesota, and Nebraska. This represents an unusual surge in central and plains data spending on data centers.
The rapid pace of data center construction, coupled with robust near-term investment plans, hinges on the availability of adequate power infrastructure. For the year through March Power infrastructure starts totaled $6.2 billion, an increase of 21%, or $1.1 billion.
ConstructConnect anticipates strong spending on new power generation and grid infrastructure as demand for electricity surges in the coming years.
Stay connected with ConstructConnect News for construction industry news and construction market analysis to stay ahead of what’s building next.
At ConstructConnect, our software solutions provide the information that construction professionals need to start every project on a solid foundation. For more than 100 years, our keen insights and market intelligence have empowered commercial firms, building product manufacturers, trade contractors, and architects to make data-driven decisions, streamline preconstruction workflows, and maximize their productivity. Our newest offerings—including our comprehensive, AI-assisted software—help our clients find, bid on, and win more projects.
ConstructConnect operates as a business unit of Roper Technologies (Nasdaq: ROP), a constituent of the Nasdaq 100, S&P 500, and Fortune 1000.
For more information, visit constructconnect.com