A lack of megaprojects normalized activity.
BOSTON, MA — December 22, 2025 —ÌýTotal construction starts were down 20.5% in November to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1.22 trillion, according to ¶¶ÒõÏÂÔØÍøÕ¾. Nonresidential building starts fell by 13.4%, residential starts increased 13.3%, and nonbuilding starts dropped 43.7% over the month. On a year-to-date basis through November, total construction starts were up 5.1% from last year. Nonresidential starts were up 4.7%, residential starts were down 4.9% and nonbuilding starts were 17.5% higher over the same period. For the 12 months ending November 2025, total construction starts were up 5.7% from the 12 months ending November 2024. Residential starts were down 3.6%, nonresidential starts grew 4.8%, and nonbuilding starts were up 18.0% over the same period. Ìý
“A lack of megaproject activity contributed to a weak November for construction starts,â€� stated Eric Gaus, Chief Economist at ¶¶ÒõÏÂÔØÍøÕ¾. “There were only 2 structures over a billion dollars. Looking through the noise of the last two months, the trajectory of the last half of 2025 has been much better than the first half.â€� Ìý
ResidentialÌý
Residential building startsÌýrose by 13.3% inÌýNovemberÌýto a seasonally adjusted annual rate ofÌý$368Ìýbillion. Single familyÌýstartsÌýincreased 3.1%, while multifamily startsÌýjumped 35.6%. On a year-to-date basis throughÌýNovember, residential starts are downÌý4.9% – with single family starts downÌý12.8% and multifamily starts upÌý12.4%.ÌýÌý
For the 12 months endingÌýNovemberÌý2025, total residential starts fellÌý3.6%. Single family starts fellÌý11.2% compared to the 12 months endingÌýNovemberÌý2024, and multifamily starts increasedÌý12.4% over the same period.ÌýÌý
The largest multifamily structures to break ground inÌýNovemberÌýwere the $391ÌýmillionÌýResidential Mixed Use, in Seattle, WA, the $228ÌýmillionÌýMarine Drive Apartments/Parking – Phase 1ÌýinÌýBuffalo,ÌýNYÌýand the $224ÌýmillionÌýNamdar Mixed-Use Residential-Swimming Pool-Parking Phase 2ÌýinÌýMiami,ÌýFL.ÌýÌý
NonresidentialÌý
Nonresidential building startsÌýdecreased 13.4%ÌýinÌýNovemberÌýtoÌýa seasonally adjusted annual rate ofÌý$485Ìýbillion. Commercial starts wereÌýdown 25.8%,ÌýalongsideÌýdeclinesÌýin offices and dataÌýcenters (-40.5%Ìým/m) andÌýhotelsÌý(-33.2%Ìým/m). Meanwhile,ÌýparkingÌýgaragesÌý(30.5% m/m),Ìýretail storesÌý(8.3% m/m)ÌýandÌýwarehousesÌý(6.4% m/m)Ìýposted growthÌýbetweenÌýOctoberÌýandÌýNovember. Institutional startsÌýimprovedÌýÌý11.4%, driven by gains inÌýpublicÌý(+78.8% m/m)Ìýand education buildings (+32.1% m/m)Ìý–ÌýbutÌýoffset by declines inÌýamusementÌý(-51.1.8% m/m) andÌýdormitoriesÌý(-45.9% m/m). Manufacturing activityÌýremainsÌývolatile,Ìýfalling 50.7% inÌýNovember.ÌýOn a year-to-date basis throughÌýNovember, nonresidential starts areÌýupÌý4.7%Ìýcompared toÌýthe firstÌýelevenÌýmonths ofÌý2024. CommercialÌýand industrialÌýstarts areÌýupÌý11.6%ÌýandÌýinstitutionalÌýstarts areÌýdownÌý2.0%Ìýover the same period.Ìý
For the 12 months endingÌýNovemberÌý2025, total nonresidential starts wereÌýupÌý4.8%Ìýcompared to the 12 months endingÌýNovemberÌý2024. Commercial starts were upÌý19.9%, institutional startsÌýdeclined 1.5%, and manufacturing starts were downÌý13.7%Ìýover the same period.ÌýÌý
The largest nonresidential building projects to break ground inÌýNovemberÌýwere theÌý$1.8ÌýÌýLAXÌýTerminal 5 Renovation & ReconstructionÌýin Los Angeles, CA., theÌý$800ÌýmillionÌýAmazon – Southern Site – Data CenterÌýinÌýOlive Township, IN,ÌýandÌýthe $797ÌýmillionÌýNew UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital CampusÌýinÌýOakland,ÌýCA.ÌýÌý
NonbuildingÌý
NonbuildingÌýconstructionÌýstarts declined 43.7% inÌýNovemberÌýto a seasonally adjusted annual rate ofÌý$362 billion.ÌýMiscellaneous nonbuilding (-70.4% m/m)Ìýdrove theÌýdeclines, along withÌýutilities (-61.4 m/m) and Highway and bridges (-4.9%). Environmental public worksÌýstartsÌýroseÌýbyÌý6.8% over the month.ÌýOn a year-to-dateÌýbasis throughÌýNovember, nonbuilding starts were upÌý17.5%,Ìýalongside gains in miscellaneous nonbuilding (+42.6% m/m), utilities (+49.5%), highways and bridges (+1.7%)ÌýwhileÌýenvironmental public worksÌýdeclined 1.4%.ÌýÌý
For the 12 months endingÌýNovemberÌý2025, total nonbuilding starts were upÌý18.0%. Environmental public works improved byÌý2.0% compared to the 12 months endingÌýNovemberÌý2024. Highway and bridgeÌýstartsÌýwere upÌý2.1%, miscellaneous nonbuilding starts were upÌý40.6%ÌýandÌýutility/gas starts increasedÌý47.8% over the same period.ÌýÌý
The largest nonbuilding projects to break ground inÌýNovemberÌýincluded theÌý$1.7ÌýbillionÌýEntergy Meta Substations – 500kv Line (Sarepta to Mt Olive)ÌýinÌýRayville,ÌýLAÌýthe $922ÌýmillionÌýEasley Renewable Energy Solar Array 400MW/650MW BESSÌýinÌýDester Center,ÌýCAÌýand the $900ÌýmillionÌýThe New Castle Bluff Energy Center Natural Gas Power PlantÌýinÌýSt Louis, MO.ÌýÌý
Regionally,Ìýtotal construction starts inÌýNovemberÌýroseÌýinÌýtheÌýNortheast (+17.9%), andÌýthe West (+3.7% m/m). StartsÌýdeclined in theÌýSouth CentralÌý(-49.2% m/m),ÌýMidwest (-7.7% m/m),Ìýand theÌýSouth AtlanticÌý(-8.4% m/m)ÌýbetweenÌýOctoberÌýandÌýNovember.ÌýÌý



