F.W. DODGE REPORTS FEBRUARY CONSTRUCTION DROPS
F.W. Dodge, a division of Mcgraw-Hill
Inc <MPH>, said that contracting for new construction fell four
pct in February to an annualized rate of 227.6 billion dlrs.
    Construction fell three pct in January, Dodge said.
    Dodge reported that nonresidential building declined four
pct to an annualized rate of 74.5 billion dlrs, residential
building rose five pct to an annualized rate of 121.6 billion
dlrs and nonbuilding construction declined 27 pct to an
annualized rate of 31.5 billion dlrs.
     For the year to date, Dodge reported 1987's unadjusted
total of contracting for new construction fell four pct to 30.4
billion dlrs.
    Nonresidential building declined seven pct to an unadjusted
10.5 billion dlrs, residential building rose two pct to an
unadjusted 14.9 billion dlrs and nonbuilding construction
declined 11 pct to an unadjusted 5.0 billion dlrs.
 Reuter
