Material prices continue to weigh heavily on construction starts in July

The total number of construction starts fell 3 percent in July to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $854.8 billion, according to a new report by Dodge Data & Analytics.

According to the report, regionally, construction starts rose during July in the Northeast, Southeast and Midwest regions, but fell in the South Atlantic and West regions. Later in the month, there were a few bright spots with residential, nonresidential buildings and non-buildings projects.

The largest residential structures to break ground in July were the $223 million second phase of the Sendero Verde project in New York City; the $203 million Chestnut Commons in Brooklyn, N.Y.; and the $194 million 100 Flatbush mixed-use project in Brooklyn, N.Y.

The largest nonresidential building projects to break ground in July were the $1.5 billion JP Morgan Office Tower in New York City; the $1 billion Inglewood basketball arena in Los Angeles; and the $825 million REG Geismar Biofuels P