Total construction starts went up 9% in April to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1.33 trillion, according to Dodge Construction Network.
The growth was driven by nonresidential and nonbuilding activity, while residential construction remained relatively flat. Nonresidential building starts rose 18.6% during the month, nonbuilding starts increased 7%, and residential starts declined 0.7%.
According to Dodge Chief Economist Eric Gaus, large data center and energy projects helped boost activity, with most construction categories posting monthly gains.
Commercial construction led nonresidential growth, rising 41.4% in April. Office and data center projects increased 46.1%, while warehouse, hotel, retail and parking garage construction also posted gains. Institutional construction rose 12.3%, led by growth in education, healthcare and other public-sector projects.
Among the largest nonresidential projects to break ground in April were:
- A $5 billion data center project in Midlothian, Texas.
- A $1.9 billion semiconductor packaging and R&D facility in West Lafayette, Indiana.
- A $1.3 billion data center campus in Saline Township, Michigan.
Nonbuilding construction also strengthened by gains in highways and bridges, environmental public works and infrastructure projects. Utility and power construction fell from March but remained elevated due to ongoing investment in natural gas and renewable energy projects.
Through April 2026, total construction starts were up 5.4%, with nonresidential starts increasing 9.1% and nonbuilding starts rising 12.3%.
