The 19 percent advance for total construction starts on an unadjusted basis during the first seven months of 2015 was due to double-digit gains for residential building and nonbuilding construction, while nonresidential building slipped slightly.

• Residential building year-to-date was up 19 percent, as a 34 percent jump by multifamily housing joined the 14 percent rise by single family housing.
• Nonbuilding construction year-to-date soared 51 percent, with electric utilities and gas plants up 268 percent while public works registered a 12 percent gain.
• As 2015 is progressing, the huge year-to-date increase for nonbuilding construction is becoming smaller.

Nonresidential building year-to-date receded 1 percent, reflecting the downward pull from a 22 percent decline for the manufacturing building category, while institutional building was up 6 percent and commercial building was up 1 percent.