Many areas in the Southwest have escaped the widespread government-mandated shutdowns from the coronavirus pandemic, but several key regional projects have been halted, and planned starts for others are in jeopardy, as has been the case across the country. Total construction starts nationwide declined 5% from February to March, according to a report from Dodge Data & Analytics. But that modest decline may be somewhat misleading.
“Most of the stay-at-home orders and construction moratoriums were not instituted until the last week of the month and into April,” said Richard Branch, chief economist for Dodge Data & Analytics. “Therefore, April construction starts are likely to be a very different story. April’s starts data will be the first true indication of how the crisis will impact the construction industry.”