South Carolina Sees 46% Gain in August Contracts

The overall value of new South Carolina construction contracts totaled $650.1 million in August, a 46% jump over the same period of a year ago, according to McGraw-Hill Construction, publisher of Engineering News-Record.

The nonbuilding sector, which includes infrastructure work, more than doubled compared to the same period of a year ago. The category recorded an estimated $204.2 million in new contracts in August, well ahead of the $80.7-million total from a year ago. Residential work also picked up the pace, with the $325.9 million in August contracts representing a 42% gain over last year. Nonresidential contracts fell by 11%, however, for a $120-million monthly total.

On a year-to-date basis, the pace of South Carolina’s construction contract activity is 1% behind that of 2010, with nearly $4.8 billion in new projects having moved forward so far this year.

The nonresidential category is the only positive sector. Its year-to-date total of $1.6 billion is 25% ahead of 2010’s pace. Residential is flat compared to a year ago, with nearly $2.3 billion in new contracts so far. The nonbuilding sector is 31% behind last year, with an estimated $896.8 million in new contracts to date.

Scott Judy is Deputy Editor for Regions, and editor of ENR Southeast, one of Engineering News-Record's 10 Regional publications. His roughly 27 years as a construction journalist began with an 11-year stint covering Midwest construction projects. In 2000, Judy helped launch the publication now known as ENR Southeast. He often delves into controversial aspects of the construction industry such as bankruptcies and fatal accidents, and wishes he would never have to cover another accident but suspects that he might.