Dive Brief:

• Data compiled by McGraw Hill Construction show that residential builders and commercial contractors took out building permits last year for $4.5 billion worth of construction in the Orlando area.
• The total was up 43% from the year before, with residential up 51% and commercial up 27%.
• A look at just December tells a slightly different story, however, with permit values down 4% year over year because commercial fell 73% in the same comparison.

Dive Insight:

While commercial seemed to take a breather in December, residential did not let up. Builders seem confident – the value associated with residential permits went up 61% from December 2012 to $247.5 million.