C&I Construction Starts Drop 15.4% To Begin The Year

HOME LOCAL MARKETS BRAND PROFILES NEW PRODUCTS DESIGNERS VIDEOS RESOURCES LIGHTING ECONOMY EVENTS CALENDAR ADVERTISE 5 BIG QUESTIONS SCIENCE & RESEARCH LIGHTING PODCASTS JOBS ☰  March 2, 2026 C&I Construction Starts Drop 15.4% To Begin The Year Manufacturing jump cannot offset broad commercial slowdown   Total construction starts edged up just 0.7% in January to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1.24 trillion, according to Dodge Construction Network — but the headline number tells only part of the story. Nonresidential building starts fell a significant 15.4% and residential starts dropped 6.4%, meaning growth was entirely dependent on a 24.3% surge in nonbuilding construction driven by a handful of massive energy and infrastructure projects. Dodge's chief economist noted that three mega projects in the nonbuilding sector accounted for nearly $20 billion — almost half of total January growth — and that without those projects, the overall construction market would have posted a decline for the month. On a year-over-year basis, total starts are up 5.0% from January 2025, though residential starts are down 17.0% and nonresidential starts are down 10.3% over the same period. The underlying picture heading into 2026 reflects a construction market increasingly dependent on large-scale energy and infrastructure investment to offset softness in buildings.   Total Starts Growth +0.7% January 2026 vs December 2025 Annual Rate $1.24T Seasonally adjusted Year-Over-Year +5.0% vs. J...