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The combined effort of civil works and private nonresidential building to offset the 26% decline in housing is starting to falter. Through the first half of this year, the total value of nonbuilding construction was up just 4% from the same period a year ago, while private nonresidential building work showed no growth, according to McGraw-Hill Construction�s most recent figures for new construction starts. Total starts through the first six months of this year were down 14%, according to MHC, of which ENR is a part. All regions tracked show sharp year-to-year overall dropoffs, the survey contends. These include declines of 19% for the West, 14% for the south Atlantic, 13% for the Northeast, 10% for the Midwest and 8% for the South Central states.