about what overlooked in all of the...

about what overlooked in all of the discussion about the outstanding performance by way of the single-family residential market last year is the fact that the multifamily sector be delighted withed a very good 1998 as well. Although the numbers weren't quite onward par with the breathtaking gains in single-family construction -- and were showing signs of losing steam on year end -- multifamily construction expanded impressively last year.

For the first 10 month of 1998 total construction spending for multifamily residential buildings was running 79 percent ahead of 1997's pace. And during 1997