Construction starts up 21.7 percent in April

Nonresidential construction starts for January to April reached $97.6 billion, with April alone reaching the highest in 18 months, according to a May 10 release from Reed Construction Data.

Compared to January to April 2006, nonresidential starts are up 21.7 percent. However, the continued decline in residential building starts will likely offset gains from the nonresidential sector, according to the release.

Commercial starts reached $33.8 billion during the period, up 29.2 percent compared to last year. The hotel and office building reported the largest gains in the commercial segment, increasing 77 percent and 59.6 percent respectively compared to last year, according to the release.

Institutional starts reported gains of 14.5 percent compared to 2006, up to $32.7 billion. The military segment almost doubled compared to last year, reaching $871 million. Nursing or assisted living building increased 44.9 percent to $1.8 billion; police, courtroom and prison starts rose 25.4 percent to $2.1 billion; and school and college building rose 23.5 percent to $17.8 billion.

Building starts for the library and museum segment and the religious segment fell 13.3 percent and 7.1 percent respectively.

To view the whole release, click here.