All categories of construction fell for the month, though the nonbuilding sector, which includes infrastructure projects, suffered the most. The value of that category’s total starts was estimated at $127.1 million for April, or 47% below the same period of a year ago. Nonresidential contracts fell 2% compared to last April, with roughly $389 million in new work. The residential category experienced a 6% lower volume of contracts in April, with about $298.4 million in new work.

For the year-to-date, McGraw-Hill Construction estimates the value of Georgia contracts at just over $3 billion, or 25% below the year-ago pace of nearly $4.1 billion.

The nonbuilding category has declined by the greatest percentage, with its year-to-date total of $496 million equaling a 49% reduction in contract activity. New nonresidential contracts are estimated at nearly $1.4 billion through April, or about 24% lower than last year’s pace of more than $1.8 billion. Residential is down 7% compared to a year ago, with nearly $1.2 billion in new contracts so far.