Value of building contracts in NY metro area up 51 percent in April

The value of contracts for future construction in the metropolitan area rose 51 percent last month compared with a year ago on higher residential activity.

Dodge Data & Analytics, an industry information service, reported Thursday that contracts worth $5.7 billion for all future building were awarded in April in the 23-county region that includes Long Island, up from $2.8 billion in April 2014.

Nonresidential contracts, for commercial properties such as offices, hotels, factories and warehouses, totaled $2.8 billion last month, up 61 percent year over year. Residential contracts rose 72 percent to $2.9 billion.