A lack of megaprojects normalized activity.
BOSTON, MA — December 22, 2025 —Total construction starts were down 20.5% in November to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1.22 trillion, according to Ҵýapp. 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.
“A lack of megaproject activity contributed to a weak November for construction starts,” stated Eric Gaus, Chief Economist at Ҵýapp. “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.”
Residential
Residential building startsrose by 13.3% inNovemberto a seasonally adjusted annual rate of$368billion. Single familystartsincreased 3.1%, while multifamily startsjumped 35.6%. On a year-to-date basis throughNovember, residential starts are down4.9% – with single family starts down12.8% and multifamily starts up12.4%.
For the 12 months endingNovember2025, total residential starts fell3.6%. Single family starts fell11.2% compared to the 12 months endingNovember2024, and multifamily starts increased12.4% over the same period.
The largest multifamily structures to break ground inNovemberwere the $391millionResidential Mixed Use, in Seattle, WA, the $228millionMarine Drive Apartments/Parking – Phase 1inBuffalo,NYand the $224millionNamdar Mixed-Use Residential-Swimming Pool-Parking Phase 2inMiami,FL.
Nonresidential
Nonresidential building startsdecreased 13.4%inNovembertoa seasonally adjusted annual rate of$485billion. Commercial starts weredown 25.8%,alongsidedeclinesin offices and datacenters (-40.5%m/m) andhotels(-33.2%m/m). Meanwhile,parkinggarages(30.5% m/m),retail stores(8.3% m/m)andwarehouses(6.4% m/m)posted growthbetweenOctoberandNovember. Institutional startsimproved11.4%, driven by gains inpublic(+78.8% m/m)and education buildings (+32.1% m/m)–butoffset by declines inamusement(-51.1.8% m/m) anddormitories(-45.9% m/m). Manufacturing activityremainsvolatile,falling 50.7% inNovember.On a year-to-date basis throughNovember, nonresidential starts areup4.7%compared tothe firstelevenmonths of2024. Commercialand industrialstarts areup11.6%andinstitutionalstarts aredown2.0%over the same period.
For the 12 months endingNovember2025, total nonresidential starts wereup4.8%compared to the 12 months endingNovember2024. Commercial starts were up19.9%, institutional startsdeclined 1.5%, and manufacturing starts were down13.7%over the same period.
The largest nonresidential building projects to break ground inNovemberwere the$1.8LAXTerminal 5 Renovation & Reconstructionin Los Angeles, CA., the$800millionAmazon – Southern Site – Data CenterinOlive Township, IN,andthe $797millionNew UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital CampusinOakland,CA.
Nonbuilding
Nonbuildingconstructionstarts declined 43.7% inNovemberto a seasonally adjusted annual rate of$362 billion.Miscellaneous nonbuilding (-70.4% m/m)drove thedeclines, along withutilities (-61.4 m/m) and Highway and bridges (-4.9%). Environmental public worksstartsroseby6.8% over the month.On a year-to-datebasis throughNovember, nonbuilding starts were up17.5%,alongside gains in miscellaneous nonbuilding (+42.6% m/m), utilities (+49.5%), highways and bridges (+1.7%)whileenvironmental public worksdeclined 1.4%.
For the 12 months endingNovember2025, total nonbuilding starts were up18.0%. Environmental public works improved by2.0% compared to the 12 months endingNovember2024. Highway and bridgestartswere up2.1%, miscellaneous nonbuilding starts were up40.6%andutility/gas starts increased47.8% over the same period.
The largest nonbuilding projects to break ground inNovemberincluded the$1.7billionEntergy Meta Substations – 500kv Line (Sarepta to Mt Olive)inRayville,LAthe $922millionEasley Renewable Energy Solar Array 400MW/650MW BESSinDester Center,CAand the $900millionThe New Castle Bluff Energy Center Natural Gas Power PlantinSt Louis, MO.
Regionally,total construction starts inNovemberroseintheNortheast (+17.9%), andthe West (+3.7% m/m). Startsdeclined in theSouth Central(-49.2% m/m),Midwest (-7.7% m/m),and theSouth Atlantic(-8.4% m/m)betweenOctoberandNovember.



