April contracts for future construction in Massachusetts are about flat in April, with commercial activity far surpassing residential construction in the Bay State, according to a new report.

According to the Research and Analytics unit of McGraw-Hill Construction, the latest
month’s construction activity found nonresidential construction rose 6 percent from a year ago. The cost of nonresidential construction, which includes commercial, manufacturing and hotel, rose to $284 million statewide, up from $268 million in April 2011.

Residential construction spending dropped 46 percent to $130 million, down from $240 million during the same month last year.

Nonbuilding construction, which includes streets, highways and bridges, increased 80 percent to $262 million, up from $145 million in 2011.

For the month of April, total construction spending is up 3 percent statewide. On a year-to-date basis, total construction is up 18 percent at $2.9 billion, up from $2.4 billion during the same period in 2011.