A recent forecast from Reed Business Information's Jim Haughey, RBI's construction industry economist, predicts $41.7 billion in multifamily construction spending in 2005, a dip of about 4.7 percent from the $43.8 billion spent this year. Multifamily starts are predicted to drop 6 percent, from 340,000 units in 2004 to 320,000 units in 2005, according to Haughey. Detailed forecast information is now available online from Building Design & Construction.