The value of contracts for future building construction in the Pittsburgh region plunged in November by 52 percent but held steady for the year to date, McGraw-Hill Construction reported.

The value of nonresidential contracts last month tumbled by 67 percent, to $87.3 million, from $264.6 million in November 2007. Residential contracts for the month jumped by 21 percent to $67.2 million from $55.8 million a year ago.

For the year to date, the value of residential and nonresidential contracts totaled $2.4 billion, unchanged from the first 11 months of 2007.