Construction just keeps on bustling in Abilene despite the challenges the national economy faces and increasing prices of building materials.

Through July 31, building permits for $110 million worth of construction had been filed at City Hall this year. That's only about $9 million short of the $119 million through July 2006, which is the city's all-time record year for the value of construction in building permits issued. The 2006 yearly total finished at about $202 million.

This year, February became an all-time record month with building permits of nearly $42 million in construction value, city building records dating back to 1994 show. Before 1994, building costs were much lower than now, making it unlikely that any previous month approached $42 million in value.

Last year, the value of construction represented by building permits slacked off somewhat, resulting in the city's second-highest annual total ever, $146 million. This year's seven-month figures for building permits outpaces the first seven months of 2007, when permits for $86.5 million in construction value were issued.