Total construction starts rose 17% in July to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1.2 trillion, according to Dodge Construction Network. Nonbuilding starts drove the increase, rising 38%, due to the start of a singular large LNG facility. Residential starts rose 20%, while nonresidential building starts lost 6%.
Key takeaways
- “Construction starts have plateaued and are making little headway.” —Richard Branch, Dodge Construction Network
- Residential building starts rose 20% in July to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $414 billion.
- Single-family starts gained 2%, while multifamily starts shot 62% higher.
- On a year-to-date basis through July 2023, total residential starts were down 21%.
- Regionally, total construction starts in July rose in the South Atlantic, South Central and West regions but fell in the Northeast and Midwest.
Year-to-date through July 2023, total construction starts were 7% below that of 2022. Residential and nonresidential starts were down 21% and 7% respectively; however, nonbuilding starts were up 20% on a year-to-date basis. For the 12 months ending July 2023, total construction starts were 3% higher than that of 2022. Nonbuilding starts were 21% higher, and nonresidential building starts gained 16%. Conversely, on a 12-month rolling basis, residential starts posted a 17% decline overall.
Nonresidential
Nonresidential building starts fell 6% in July to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $334 billion. Commercial starts rose 11% on the back of gains in warehouse and parking starts, offsetting a decline in office and hotel starts. Institutional starts were down 11%, with education, dormitories and religious the only categories to show an increase. Manufacturing starts dropped 39% in July. On a year-to-date basis through July, total nonresidential starts were 7% lower than that of 2022. Institutional starts gained 8%, while manufacturing and commercial starts fell 9% and 31%, respectively.
For the 12 months ending July 2023, total nonresidential building starts were 16% higher than that ending July 2022. Manufacturing starts were 24% higher. Institutional starts improved 20%, and commercial starts gained 8%.
Residential
Residential building starts rose 20% in July to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $414 billion. Single family starts gained 2%, while multifamily starts shot 62% higher. On a year-to-date basis through July 2023, total residential starts were down 21%. Single family starts were 25% lower, and multifamily starts were down 14%.
For the 12 months ending in July 2023, residential starts were 17% lower than in 2022. Single family starts were 25% lower, while multifamily starts were down only 0.1% on a rolling 12-month basis.
Analyst response
“Construction starts have plateaued and are making little headway,” says Richard Branch, chief economist, Dodge Construction Network. “Higher interest rates, labor shortages and material prices continue to impact the flow of construction starts, resulting in little forward momentum over the last 12 months. The lag in nonresidential building projects entering the planning stage will slow starts as the year progresses, which should be offset by rising infrastructure activity.”
