Construction spending in metro Atlanta showed a dramatic shift in April compared to the same month last year.

McGraw-Hill Construction said more dollars were spent on residential construction in 2012 ($232 million) than April 2011 ($113 million).

Nonresidential shifted in the opposite direction. It totaled $99.9 million this year and $282.9 million in April 2011.

Year-to-date cumulative construction spending in the region is $1.33 billion, compared to $1.29 billion during the same period of 2011.

--Christopher Quinn