Nonresidential
building was up 1% YTD. Nonbuilding construction rose 13% for the month and 5%
YTD. Total nonresidential construction was down 11% for the month but up 2%
YTD. Residential building starts were down 11% for the month and 26% for the
year.
Reed Construction Data,
which also collects information on new contracts, reported that YTD total
construction was down 1.7%, with nonresidential up 20% and residential down
21%. Also on Aug. 22, the American
Institute of Architects (AIA) reported that in July, its monthly survey of
300 architectural firms recorded the second highest percentage of firms with increased
billings in the 12-year history of the index. AIA’s sub-indexes for
commercial/industrial and institutional practices set records; residential and
mixed-practice firms were also solidly positive.