New construction starts in March increased 5 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $743.7 billion, marking the third straight monthly gain, according to Dodge Data & Analytics. The total construction growth in March was led by the nonbuilding construction sector, and particularly by public works, which featured the start of two large pipeline projects – the $4.2 billion Rover natural gas pipeline in Ohio and Michigan, and the $2.5 billion Mariner East 2 propane and natural gas liquids pipeline in Pennsylvania.

Residential building in March registered moderate growth, helped by a rebound for multifamily housing after a subdued February. Nonresidential building in March held steady with its February pace, as strong activity for office buildings and airport terminals offset a steep drop for manufacturing plants.

“The pattern for construction starts in early 2017, with three straight monthly gains, is the reverse of the three straight monthly declines that closed out 2016,” noted Robert A. Murray, chief economist for Dodge Data & Analytics.

“While the construction start statistics will frequently show an up-and-down pattern, whether month-to-month or quarter-to-quarter, the improved activity in this year’s first quarter provides evidence that the construction expansion is still proceeding,” Murray continued. “This year’s first quarter has seen nonresidential building and public works rebound from the loss of momentum each experienced towards the end of 2016, helped respectively by the strong activity so far in 2017 for new airport terminal projects and new pipeline projects. Nonresidential building in 2017 should be able to stay on its upward track, supported by further growth for such institutional project types as school construction. As for public works, it’s also expected to show improvement over the course of 2017, although its prospects are less certain given its connection to legislative developments at the federal level. This includes how Congress will deal with the continuing resolution for fiscal 2017 appropriations scheduled to expire at the end of April, and whether a new federal infrastructure program will get passed this year.”

Nonbuilding Construction

Nonbuilding construction in March jumped 16 percent to $195.7 billion (annual rate), following its 35 percent hike in February. The public works sector surged 33 percent, reflecting an 82 percent increase in March for the miscellaneous public works category that includes such diverse project types as site work, pipelines, mass transit, and outdoor sports stadiums.

The $4.2 billion Rover natural gas pipeline was included as a construction start in March, and is located mostly in Ohio and Michigan with smaller portions in West Virginia and Pennsylvania. Also reported as a March start was the $2.5 billion Mariner East 2 Pipeline, located mostly in Pennsylvania with smaller portions in West Virginia and Ohio, which will transport propane and other natural gas liquids from the Marcellus Shale natural gas fields in southwestern Pennsylvania to a processing and distribution facility near Philadelphia.

The start of a $300 million stadium in Washington, D.C., for the DC United soccer team also contributed to the substantial March increase for miscellaneous public works. Highway and bridge construction in March edged up 1 percent, essentially holding at the improved volume achieved with its 38 percent jump in February. Large highway and bridge projects entered as March construction starts were a $399 million bridge replacement in the Pensacola, Fla., area, the $266 million Sixth Street Viaduct replacement in Los Angeles, and a $192 million highway expansion project in San Antonio.

River/harbor development in March advanced 32 percent from its lackluster February amount, while sewer construction was unchanged and water supply construction slipped 2 percent. The electric utility/gas plant category in March retreated 54 percent, although it did include as construction starts a $300 million wind farm in Ohio and a $175 million solar farm in Virginia.

Residential Building

Residential building, at $310.8 billion (annual rate), grew 4 percent in March. Multifamily housing provided the upward push, rebounding 26 percent after a 23 percent setback in February. There were six multifamily projects valued at $100 million or more that reached groundbreaking in March, led by a $200 million apartment building in Washington, D.C., and a $150 million apartment building in New York.

Single-family housing in March receded 3 percent, which followed modest improvement reported during the previous five months. By region, single family housing in March showed this pattern – the Midwest, down 9 percent; the West and South Central, each down 3 percent; and the South Atlantic, down 2 percent; while the Northeast ran counter with a 3 percent gain.

Nonresidential Building

Nonresidential building in March, at $237.2 billion (annual rate), was essentially unchanged from its February pace. The institutional side of the nonresidential building market grew 3 percent in March, with much of the support coming from an 83 percent surge for the transportation terminal category.

Large airport terminals that were reported as March starts included two at Los Angeles International Airport – the $1.9 billion Delta relocation to Terminals 2 and 3 and the $961 million Midfield Satellite Concourse North (phase 1). Also entered as a March start was the $110 million Terminal 2 modernization at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.

Healthcare facilities in March increased 13 percent, aided by the start of these large projects – the $265 million Methodist University Hospital in Memphis and the $230 million North Alabama Medical Center in Florence, Ala. Also strengthening in March were religious buildings, up 9 percent; and public buildings (courthouses and detention centers), up 4 percent.

On the negative side, educational facilities in March dropped 14 percent after February’s 11 percent gain, although March did include these noteworthy projects as construction starts – a $289 million research institute building in Seattle, a $170 million library and classroom facility at Temple University in Philadelphia, and a $138 million science building renovation at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Va. Also retreating in March was the amusement and recreational category, which fell 29 percent.

The commercial side of the nonresidential building market increased 7 percent in March, showing improvement after a 10 percent drop in February. Office construction climbed 41 percent, lifted by the start of five projects valued each in excess of $100 million. These were led by the $525 million East Campus Building 2 at the U.S. Army installation at Fort Meade, Md., the $289 million LG corporate headquarters in Englewood Cliffs, N.J. and a $228 million office building in Seattle.

Commercial garages also advanced in March, rising 12 percent. In contrast, March witnessed declines for hotels, down 7 percent; stores and shopping centers, down 8 percent; and warehouses, down 14 percent. The manufacturing plant category in March plunged 65 percent, after being lifted in February by the start of a $985 million refinery modernization in Richmond, Calif.

Year-to-Date

Through the first three months of 2017, total construction starts on an unadjusted basis were $160.1 billion, down 3 percent from the same period a year ago (which included heightened activity for manufacturing plants and electric utilities/gas plants). If the often volatile manufacturing plant and electric utility/gas plant categories are excluded, total construction starts during the first three months of 2017 would be up 8 percent relative to last year.

The 3 percent decline for total construction starts on an unadjusted basis during the first three months of 2017 relative to last year was due to a varied pattern by major sector.
• Nonbuilding construction dropped 17 percent year-to-date, with electric utilities/gas plants down 72 percent while public works climbed 20 percent (reflecting the start of several large pipeline projects in early 2017).
• Residential building slipped a modest 1 percent year-to-date, with multifamily housing down 18 percent while single-family housing grew 9 percent.
• Nonresidential building registered a 7 percent gain year-to-date, with institutional building up 35 percent, commercial building down 9 percent, and manufacturing building down 44 percent.

By geography, total construction starts in the first three months of 2017 showed reduced activity relative to last year in two regions – the South Central, down 26 percent; and the Northeast, down 3 percent. Total construction gains year-to-date were reported in the West, up 1 percent; the South Atlantic, up 11 percent; and the Midwest, up 12 percent.

Further perspective comes from looking at 12-month moving totals, in this case the 12 months ending March 2017 versus the 12 months ending March 2016. On this basis, total construction starts were up 2 percent. By major sector, nonbuilding construction decreased 8 percent, with electric utilities/gas plants down 40 percent while public works increased 6 percent. Residential building rose 3 percent, as a 4 percent drop for multifamily housing was outweighed by a 7 percent gain for single-family housing. Nonresidential building advanced 7 percent, with institutional building up 14 percent, commercial building up 7 percent, and manufacturing building down 26 percent.