BUSINESS MEMO: NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION UP

Nonresidential and residential building sectors experience a decline nationally in November.

Contracting for new construction fell 3 percent to a seasonably adjusted annual rate of $328.5 billion, according to F.W. Dodge, a unit of the McGraw-Hill Construction Information Group.

For the first in the 11 months of 1997, total construction was up 3 percent from the previous year.

Non-building construction rebounded from a lackluster October.

Nonresidential building, at $122.1 billion, dropped 3 percent in November. Construction of manufacturing plants plunged 33 percent from a strong October.

Residential building decreased 7 percent in November to $144.2 billion. Single-family housing posted a 7 percent drop, while multifamily construction fell 9 percent.

Nonbuilding construction gained 4 percent to $62.4 billion.