Dive Brief:

• After a strong showing in January and February, construction starts retreated by 13% in March, Dodge Data & Analytics reported on Tuesday.

• Groundbreakings at four liquefied natural gas projects, a petrochemical plant, and a solar power facility—each worth more than $1 billion—created the prior two-month surge, while March saw few high-ticket starts. One exception: a $2.3 billion highway project in Florida, according to the report.

• Institutional building in March fell 9% after its 20% jump in February, while residential construction held steady, the report said.

Dive Insight:

The drop in construction starts doesn’t necessarily mean the industry is suffering. The presence of multiple, unusually large projects in one month can boost the numbers temporarily and make the next month’s average showing look like underperformance.

That has been the case so far this year, Dodge Data Chief Economist Robert A. Murray said in a press release. "The March pullback returns activity to a more sustainable pace,” he said, “at the same time showing an industry that's still in the midst of expansion.”