A report by McGraw-Hill Construction has revealed that new U.S. construction starts in November decreased -9% from October 2009, with total construction down -28% on 2008.

Residential building was essentially unchanged in November from October as single-family housing edged up +1%, but remained below the monthly average for 2008 by -11%, with multi-family housing however dropping -6%.

However, residential building is down -34% overall from the same period in 2008, with single-family housing down -26% and multi-family housing down -58%.

Robert Murray, vice president of economic affairs for McGraw-Hill Construction, said: ‘Single-family housing is no longer exerting a downward pull and the federal stimulus has to this point supported greater construction of highways, bridges and other public projects.

At the same time, the negatives of weak employment, tight bank lending, and diminished state fiscal health continue to depress most of the non-residential building structure types as well as multifamily housing.

Non-residential building fell -18% in November from October, with construction of stores falling -17%, warehouses were down -22% and hotel construction decreased by -34%.