Total construction starts plunged 20.5 percent from October to November at a seasonally adjusted annual rate, Dodge Construction Network reported on December 22, erasing a similar percentage gain initially reported for October.
“Nonresidential building starts fell by 13.4 percent, residential starts increased 13.3 percent, and non-building starts dropped 43.7 percent over the month. On a year-to-date [YTD] basis through November, total construction starts were up 5.1 percent from last year,” the report states.
Residential starts were down 4.9 percent YTD, with single family starts down 13 percent and multifamily starts up 12 percent. Nonbuilding starts were 17.5 percent higher YTD, with highways and bridges up 1.7 percent, miscellaneous non-building up 43 percent, utilities up 49.5 percent, and environmental public works down 1.4 percent. Nonresidential building starts were up 4.7 percent YTD, with commercial and industrial starts up 11.6 percent and institutional starts down 2 percent.
The value of construction starts, not seasonally adjusted, rose 1 percent year-over-year (y/y) in November and 7.5 percent YTD in the first 11 months of 2025 compared to January-November 2024, ConstructConnect reported on December 22. Nonresidential building starts rose 5.2 percent y/y and 16.5 percent YTD, with commercial up 17.1 percent YTD, institutional down 6.1 percent, and industrial (manufacturing) up 85.6 percent. Engineering (civil) starts dipped 0.3 percent y/y but climbed 9.1 percent YTD, with roads up 4.8 percent YTD, water and sewage treatment up 8.2 percent, bridges up 10.4 percent, airports up 14.1 percent, and miscellaneous (power, etc.) up 15.7 percent. Residential starts fell 3.7 percent y/y and 5.7 percent YTD, with single-family down 7.2 percent YTD and apartments down 3.1 percent.