The Partnership sends updates for the most important economic indicators each month. If you would like to opt-in to receive these updates, please click here.

Estimated Reading Time: 1 minute

New construction awards in Greater Houston continue to normalize in ’26 after two exceptionally strong years of activity, according to information from Dodge Data & Analytics. About $5.0 billion in contracts were awarded year-to-date through February ’26, down 38.0 percent from the $8.1 billion awarded during the same period in ’25. Even so, activity remains healthy and sustainable, tracking broadly in line with the market’s typical range from ’20 through ’23. The elevated volumes seen in ’24 and ’25 were supported in part by a heavy concentration of major infrastructure awards. That surge has moderated in ’26, with non-building contract values down by roughly two-thirds through February relative to the same period last year.

Beyond the non-building sector (which accounts for most of the change), contract values were generally flat or lower across the rest of the market. Manufacturing was a relative bright spot, with February year-to-date awards rising 27.5 percent to $112.8 million in ’26 from $88.5 million in ’25, though the sector represented only a small share of overall contract activity. Commercial awards were essentially unchanged at roughly $1.0 billion, while other non-residential categories posted the largest pullback, down $783.6 million year over year. Single-family home contract values also declined by $562.3 million, and multi-family awards were down by $63.8 million.

Prepared by Greater Houston Partnership Research Division.

Colin Baker
Manager of Economic Research
Greater Houston Partnership
[email protected]

Clara Richardson
Research Analyst
Greater Houston Partnership
[email protected]