Future construction deals’ value sinks

Putting to an end to a budding trend, the total value of future construction contracts reported in New Hampshire fell dramatically in April.According to figures from industry information service McGraw-Hill Construction, the total value of all future construction projects fell by 44 percent from April 2010, dropping to $125.1 million from $225 million.Future nonresidential construction projects, which had increased rather substantially in the first three months of 2011, fell by 41 percent from a year ago, to $66.6 million from $113.2 million. A month earlier, the value of future nonresidential projects was $101.4 million.But even more dramatic was the drop in the value of future nonbuilding projects — roads, bridges and the like. McGraw-Hill reported a 90 percent drop in the value of future nonbuilding projects, from $65.3 million in April 2010 to $6.6 million in April 2011. The value of such future contracts totaled $50.5 million in March.The one slight bright spot was residential construction, where a 12 percent increase in the value of future projects was reported. According to McGraw-Hill, such projects totaled almost $52 million in April, up from $46.5 million a year earlier. The value of future residential projects totaled $42.1 million in March.All told, the value of all future construction contracts through April stands at $497.3 million, 10 percent higher than he $452.9 million reported through April 2010. — JEFF FEINGOLD/NEW HAMPSHIRE BUSINESS REVIEW