Spending Trends

Department of Transportation Contract Spending Trends

Department of Transportation Contract Spending Trends shows how federal contract spending changes across the visible time series in FPDS-derived procurement data.

The latest visible point is 2025 at 9.02. Across the visible range, the series changed by 869.89%.

Federal Contract Spending Spending Trends Spending Series Series

Updated 03/20/2026

Latest Period
2025
9.02
Visible Change
869.89%
8.09
Peak Period
2025
9.02
Trend Direction
Up
Very Strong

Analysis

The latest visible point is 2025 at 9.02. Across the visible range, the series changed by 869.89%.

Why it matters: Use this page to evaluate how federal contract spending levels shift over time and identify inflection points.

Methodology: The query returns a structured time series, detects a period column and a primary numeric metric, and computes visible-series statistics such as latest value, peak, low, and overall change.

Commentary

Department of Transportation Contract Spending Trends tracks federal contract spending over time in FPDS-derived data.

Key takeaway: The latest visible point is 2025 at 9.02. Overall visible change is 869.89%.

Analyst note: This page is best used for directional review, turning points, and quick comparison against related time windows or scopes.

Trend Chart

This chart plots Federal Contract Spending over the visible time series returned by the query.

Query Used

-- Department of Transportation Contract Spending Trends
SELECT
    fiscal_year,
    round(sum(obligated_amount) / 1000000000, 2) AS spending_billion_usd,
    count() AS award_count,
    round(sum(obligated_amount) / count(), 0) AS avg_award_size
FROM
(
    SELECT
        if(
            toUInt8(substring(content__award__relevantContractDates__signedDate, 6, 2)) >= 10,
            toUInt16(substring(content__award__relevantContractDates__signedDate, 1, 4)) + 1,
            toUInt16(substring(content__award__relevantContractDates__signedDate, 1, 4))
        ) AS fiscal_year,
        content__award__dollarValues__obligatedAmount AS obligated_amount
    FROM fpds.data
    WHERE
        contract_type = 1
        AND content__award__relevantContractDates__signedDate != ''
        AND content__award__purchaserInformation__contractingOfficeAgencyID__departmentName = 'TRANSPORTATION, DEPARTMENT OF'
)
WHERE fiscal_year < toYear(today())
GROUP BY fiscal_year
ORDER BY fiscal_year ASC

Trend Table

This table shows the structured time series returned by the query.

Fiscal Year Spending Billion Usd Award Count Avg Award Size
1979 0.93 6601 141620
1980 1.04 8136 128967
1981 1.50 7450 201888
1982 0.95 7439 128322
1983 1.09 8214 133002
1984 1.05 7801 135679
1985 1.14 5960 191981
1986 1.22 5196 236579
1987 0.64 3905 165229
1988 1.77 5091 348752
1989 1.49 4754 313788
1990 2.36 6819 347527
1991 2.91 10616 274237
1992 2.83 10985 258226
1993 3.20 11928 268840
1994 3.46 13691 253243
1995 4.17 16141 258642
1996 3.34 17513 191127
1997 3.40 18877 180133
1998 3.98 20861 190829
1999 2.88 17593 164151
2000 1.84 14812 124614
2001 2.36 15897 148932
2002 3.86 16986 227475
2003 2.62 10886 241488
2004 1.95 10134 192629
2005 1.61 11301 142987
2006 2.05 11551 177548
2007 4.61 17035 270755
2008 5.33 17928 297655
2009 5.43 18932 286914
2010 5.96 21507 277330
2011 5.92 21967 269884
2012 5.99 21851 274275
2013 5.56 22025 252782
2014 5.70 21071 270943
2015 5.56 21233 262120
2016 6.93 23503 294895
2017 5.84 32349 180606
2018 6.02 32546 184986
2019 5.74 28157 203883
2020 6.80 27660 245939
2021 6.97 27592 252683
2022 7.96 29584 269108
2023 8.69 29535 294308
2024 8.56 30674 279225
2025 9.02 31039 290683

How This Trend Is Built

Measure how a selected procurement metric changes across time.

Query structure

  • The query selects a time dimension used as the x-axis for the trend.
  • It calculates or returns a numeric metric for each visible period.
  • The result is interpreted as a chronological series for trend analysis.
  • The metric focuses on obligated dollars or a directly related spending aggregate.

Included fields

  • fiscal_year — Defines the chronological unit used for the trend series.
  • spending_billion_usd — Defines the main value plotted and analyzed over time.
  • award_count — Provides additional numeric context that can support interpretation.
  • avg_award_size — Provides additional numeric context that can support interpretation.

How to use this trend

  • trend direction analysis
  • time-series review
  • federal procurement timing analysis
  • spending trajectory review
  • budget pattern review

Computed Metrics

Series Points
47
First Visible Point
1979
0.93
Mean
3.92
Median
3.40
Max
9.02
2025
Min
0.64
1987
Volatility
2.37
2.37
Rows Returned
47

Series Extremes

Largest Increase
2.56
2006 → 2007 · 124.88%
Largest Decrease
-1.24
2002 → 2003 · -32.12%

Related Pages

Method Notes

  • Trend interpretation is based on the returned query result set ordered by the detected period column.
  • Change metrics compare the first visible point and the latest visible point in the series.
  • Volatility is based on the standard deviation of the visible numeric series.

Use FPDS Query for deeper trend analysis

Go beyond the published time series with custom SQL, broader filters, saved queries, and deeper procurement analysis across agencies, vendors, industries, states, contract structures, and competitive segments.

Continue from this trend page into full FPDS Query workflows with deeper filtering, custom SQL, saved queries, and broader market comparison.