Dodge Construction Network: Latest Construction Starts Data Shows Growth in Select Sectors

Total construction starts were down 9% in April to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1.03 trillion, according to Dodge Construction Network. Nonresidential building starts declined 3%, residential starts fell 4%, while nonbuilding starts decreased 22%. On a year-to-date basis through April, total construction starts were down 3% from last year. Read the full details here.

Nonbuilding
Nonbuilding construction starts fell 22% in April to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $279 billion. Highway and bridge starts decreased 8%, environmental public works fell back 2% and utility starts were down 70% last month. Meanwhile, miscellaneous nonbuilding starts were up a strong 57% in April. On a year-to-date basis through April, nonbuilding starts were up 8%, with utility/gas starts up 37%, miscellaneous nonbuilding up 5%, highway and bridge starts up 7%, and environmental public work starts down 7% over the same period.

The largest nonbuilding projects to break ground in April were the $1.8 billion Hudson Tunnel Project (Manhattan Tunnel) in New York, New York, the $775 million West Alabama Highway project in Thomasville, Alabama and the $365 million Carpenter Wind farm (200 MW) in Carpenter Township, Indiana.

Nonresidential
Nonresidential building starts receded 3% in April to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $391 billion. Commercial starts were 21% lower in April, alongside weaker retail, office and warehouse starts. Institutional starts, on the other hand, were up 2% last month following stronger healthcare and education starts. Manufacturing starts grew 78% over the month, as well. On a year-to-date basis through April, nonresidential starts are down 10% compared to April 2024. Commercial starts are up 3% and institutional starts are down 4% over the same period.

The largest nonresidential building projects to break ground in April were the $1 billion Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Sacramento, California, the $940 million Bally’s River West Hotel and Casino in Chicago, Illinois and two buildings for the GM & Samsung SDI Battery Cell Factory in New Carlisle, Indiana – valued at $855 million and $875 million, respectively.

Residential
Residential building starts fell 4% in April to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $360 billion. Single-family starts decreased by 5%, while multifamily starts receded 3%. On a year-to-date basis through April, residential starts are down 5%, with single-family starts down 6% and multifamily starts down 4%.

The largest multifamily structures to break ground in April were a $331 million residential and retail development in Jersey City, New Jersey, the $256 million Vista Point apartments at Fairview Life Care Community in Groton, Connecticut and the $226 million Rambler Riverfront District apartments in West Lafayette, Indiana.