Residential Sector Boosts Georgia Contract Activity in July

New contracts for future Georgia construction activity increased by 10% in July, according to McGraw-Hill Construction, publisher of Engineering News-Record. The state recorded $957.4 million in new contracts during the month.

Residential provided most of the increase. For July, this category was 37% ahead of last year’s pace, with an estimated $402.4 million in new contracts moving forward. Nonresidential contracts also posted an increase, of 3%, for a nearly $397.3 million total. The nonbuilding sector, which includes infrastructure work, fell 17% compared to the same period of a year ago, and tallied nearly $157.8 million.

On a year-to-date basis, Georgia’s contract activity is estimated to be 9% behind 2010’s pace, with nearly $6.2 billion in new projects moving forward.

Through July, residential is the only positive sector, with its year-to-date total of $2.3 billion equating to a 7% gain compared to 2010. Nonresidential is 2% behind last year, with just over $3 billion in new contracts so far. The nonbuilding category is 42% behind 2010’s pace, with about $921.1 million in new contracts to date.

Scott Judy is Deputy Editor for Regions, and editor of ENR Southeast, one of Engineering News-Record's 10 Regional publications. His roughly 27 years as a construction journalist began with an 11-year stint covering Midwest construction projects. In 2000, Judy helped launch the publication now known as ENR Southeast. He often delves into controversial aspects of the construction industry such as bankruptcies and fatal accidents, and wishes he would never have to cover another accident but suspects that he might.