April home construction surged 88 percent

After a weak first quarter, residential construction skyrocketed in metro Kansas City in April with $247 million in contracts issued, 88 percent more than the same month a year ago.

The surge in housing construction reported by McGraw Hill Construction, a national industry trade publication, returned the pace of housing construction through the first four months of the year to where it was a year ago in the Kansas City area.

Through the first four months of the year, there have been $510 million in residential contracts issued, off just 1 percent from the same period last year. That’s a big rebound from March, when the area was down 32 percent compared with the first quarter of 2013.

Commercial construction also was up in April with $80 million in contracts issued, 6 percent more than a year ago. Through the first four months, there have been $342.4 million in commercial contracts issued, up 2 percent.

Overall, construction activity in the area this year is statistically even with last year’s pace, with $852.3 million in total contracts.

McGraw Hill defines residential work as single-family and multifamily housing. Commercial work includes office, retail, hotels, warehouses, government and other buildings.

This story was originally published May 22, 2014 at 11:30 AM with the headline "April home construction surged 88 percent."