Contractors have entered the fall stretch of the 2008 building season.

The pace of building permits lags slightly behind that of a year ago: 427 compared to 447.

The estimated construction value of the projects reflects the impact made a year ago of the Wal-Mart Super Center project. The year to date 2008 total was $11.53 million compared to $24.8 million in 2007.

The city engineering department issued 68 permits in August for an estimated $2.34 million.

A year ago in August 2007, the city issued 53 permits for an estimated $734,164 in construction projects.

Despite the nationwide housing slump, there were three new housing starts in Austin in August for an estimated $483,000 in construction value.

A year ago, the city issued two new housing permits in August for an estimated $352,000.

There were 18 new housing starts in Austin through eight months a year ago for an estimated construction value of $2.9 million.

This year, the housing slump and home mortgage crisis held housing permits to only nine in eight months for an estimated construction value of $1.3 million.