Overall construction spending totaled $960.96 billion at a seasonally adjusted annual rate in August, 5 percent higher than a year ago. In August, spending on office buildings, shopping centers and hospital construction all declined. Part of the rebound reflected a recovery in residential construction, which grew at an annual rate of 8.8 percent in the spring, the first positive growth after two quarters of declines. Economists are forecasting growth of around 3 percent in the gross domestic product for the third quarter but the recent weakness in construction spending could cause revisions in those estimates.