Warehouse, single family, and healthcare starts a bright spot
BEDFORD, MA —October 17, 2024 — Total construction starts fell 6% in September to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1.1 trillion, according to Dodge Construction Network. Nonbuilding starts fell 11%, residential starts were down 1%, while nonresidential building starts were down 6% in September. On a year-to-date basis through September, total construction starts were up 2% from the first nine months of 2023. Residential starts were up 7%, nonresidential buildings rose 2%, and nonbuilding starts were down 3%.
For the 12 months ending September 2024, total construction starts were up 1% from the 12 months ending September 2023. Residential starts were up 6%, nonresidential building starts were flat, and nonbuilding starts were down 4% on a 12-month rolling sum basis.
“Construction starts are treading water,” said Richard Branch chief economist of Dodge Construction Network. “September’s rate cut was just the first step in unwinding a period of high rates and several more cuts will be needed to start moving construction projects through the planning process to start. More consistent growth in construction starts should begin to materialize early in the new year.”
Nonbuilding
Nonbuilding construction decreased 11% in September, falling to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $309 billion. Highway and bridge starts climbed 5%, however, environmental public works dropped 13%, miscellaneous nonbuilding starts fell 14%, and utility/gas plants fell 30% in the month. On a year-to-date basis through September total nonbuilding starts were down 3% from a year ago. Miscellaneous nonbuilding starts were up 10%, environmental public works starts were 7% higher, and highway and bridge starts improved by 3%, but utility/gas starts were down 23% through September.
For the 12 months ending September 2024, total nonbuilding starts were 4% lower than the 12 months ending September 2023. Miscellaneous nonbuilding starts were 9% higher, environmental public works gained 3%, highway and bridge starts increased by 1%, but utility/gas starts were down 22%.
The largest nonbuilding projects to break ground in September were the $848 million Hillview Reservoir in Yonkers, New York, the $779 million bridge projects at I-95 and I-10 in Providence, Rhode Island, and the $775 million Coolidge Generating Station natural gas expansion in Coolidge, Arizona.
Nonresidential
Nonresidential building starts fell 6% in September to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $409 billion. Manufacturing starts fell 30%, institutional starts lost 10% despite a solid increase in healthcare starts, while commercial starts were up 9% due to gains in warehouse and office/data center activity. On a year-to-date basis through September, total nonresidential starts were up 2%. Institutional starts were 13% higher, while commercial starts were down 2%, and manufacturing starts were 22% lower on a year-to-date basis through September.
For the 12 months ending September 2024, nonresidential building starts were even when compared to the previous 12 months. Manufacturing starts were down 17%, commercial starts were down 8%, and institutional starts were 13% higher for the 12 months ending September 2024.
The largest nonresidential building projects to break ground in September were the $2.9 billion UCSF Helen Diller Medical Center in San Francisco, California, the $800 million Project Cosmo data center in Laramie County, Wyoming, and the $666 million Microsoft data center in Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin.
Residential
Residential building starts fell 1% in September to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $382 billion. Single family starts rose 2%, while multifamily starts were down 6%. On a year-to-date basis through nine months, total residential starts were 7% higher. Single family starts jumped 17% and multifamily starts were down 10% on a year-to-date basis.
For the 12 months ending September 2024, residential starts were 6% higher than the previous 12 months. Single family starts were 17% higher, while multifamily starts were 11% lower on a 12-month rolling sum basis.
The largest multifamily structures to break ground in September were the $211 million Ray Nashville mixed-use project in Nashville, Tennessee, a $152 million mixed-use project in Jersey City, New Jersey, and the $150 million Lifetime Living Tower in Phoenix, Arizona.
Regionally, total construction starts in September fell in the Northeast, Midwest, South Atlantic and West regions, but rose in the South Central region.
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