At a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $708.1 billion, new construction starts in February slipped 3 percent from the previous month, according to Dodge Data & Analytics. 

Dodge Data and Analytics reported that construction starts increased 12 percent month over month in December, and starts for the year increased 3 percent to $745.9 billion. Nonbuilding starts were up 43 percent in December, in part because of the kickoff of the $2 billion Interstate 66 project in Virginia.