The pace of new North Carolina construction contracts got off to a slow start in January, according to McGraw-Hill Construction, publisher of ENR Southeast. The company reported that the state registered approximately $908.5 million in new contracts during the month of January, down 22% from last January�s nearly $1.2-billion total.

All three of McGraw-Hill Construction�s project sectors showed double-digit declines for the month. The nonbuilding category, which includes infrastructure and civil contracts, fell 41% compared to the same period of a year ago, and recorded just $139.7 million in new volume.