Last year’s construction trades industry in Austin recorded a “thud” and not a “boom.”

Building permit totals were only 15 fewer than 2007: 607 compared to 622.

The difference — a sure signal that the economy was to blame — came in the estimated construction value of the 12 months of building projects: $20.9 million in 2008 compared to $29.1 million in 2007.

The $9 million decline in construction work echoed what was happening nationwide in the home mortgage crisis.

There were 15 new housing starts in Austin in 2008 compared to 22 in 2007.

Meanwhile, commercial alteration, addition and repair projects remained nearly the same: 50 and 51.

The commercial projects came with an estimated contraction value of $4.5 million in 2009 compared to $3.7 million in 2007.

Public works projects helped bolster the construction trades industry in Austin last year.

Only six such permits were issued by the city, but it amounted to an estimated $1.5 million in work.

Heating contractors picked up 363 permits for an estimated $1.5 million in projects.

The 2007 totals were 395 permits for an estimated $1.6 million.

Plumbing contractors were issued 180 permits for an estimated $3.5million.

A year earlier in 2007, plumbers received 205 permits for an estimated $1.2 million.

In the first month of 2009, the city issued 21 building permits for an estimated $653,549.

That compares to 23 permits issued in January 2008 for an estimated $284,368.

Already this year, seven permits have been issued by the city for an estimated $581,894 in commercial addition, alteration and repair projects.

The permits went to Wal-Mart Stores Inc., Mark Hastings, Lakeside Properties, Bradley and Lisa Tuttle, Scott Larson and Jose Luis Torres.

There were 22 residential heating permits issued in January for an estimated $84,730.

Plumbers took out eight permits for an estimated $30,560 in work.

Six residential addition, alteration and repair permits were issued for $34,700 in work.

No new housing starts were permitted in January.

The monthly building report information is provided by the city’s public works and engineering department.