State construction up first 11 months of 2001

Missouri construction through 11 months of 2001 was up 5 percent, but November totals were down in all phases -- residential, nonresidential building and nonbuilding.

Total construction for the year going into the final months topped $7.4 billion going into December, up from the $7 billion during the same period in 2000, according to the F.W. Dodge Division of McGraw-Hill Cos., which keeps tabs on the nation's construction.

Residential construction for Missouri increased 3 percent from last year's 11-month totals. Home building was down in November, from $243 million in 2000 to $225 million this year.

Total construction was up going into December, at $7,441,613,000 from $7,065,896,000 during the same period in 2000.

The big jump came in the nonbuilding division, which includes streets, highways, bridges, river and harbor development, airports, utilities and sewage and water. Totals in nonbuilding for 2001 was $1.8 billion, up 18 percent from the $1.15 billion during the same period a year ago.

December totals have not been reported yet.