Dodge Momentum Index Increases in February

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NEW YORK, N.Y. – The Dodge Momentum Index climbed 0.5 percent in February to 126.1 (2000=100) from its revised January reading of 125.5. The momentum index is a monthly measure of the first (or initial) report for nonresidential building projects in planning, which have been shown to lead construction spending for nonresidential buildings by a full year. February’s increase was the third consecutive month-to-month gain for the index, as a 1.0 percent pickup by commercial planning reports overcame a slight 0.1 percent decline by institutional planning. While commercial planning activity is still below the levels present throughout much of 2015, … Read more

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Construction Spending Posts Strong Monthly, Year-Over-Year in January

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Construction spending soared in January from a month earlier and all major segments posted hefty year-over-year gains, pushing the total to the highest level since October 2008, according to a recent analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said the new spending figures indicate that demand for construction remains robust amid broader economic concerns. “There were solid gains for both the month and year in apartment, nonresidential and highway construction,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “Although favorable weather may have boosted these results, demand for many types of projects remains strong despite worries that the … Read more

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Residential Sector Continues to Dominate North American Construction Market

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PHOENIX, Ariz. – Rider Levett Bucknall recently released the third edition of its North American RLB Crane Index. The report measures construction activity in major cities across North America and predicts the health of the U. S. construction industry. According to the new issue of the index, the residential market continues to lead construction activity in the industry. Other notable sectors that are experiencing growth and contributing to overall activity are mixed-use, commercial and hospitality projects. The North American RLB Crane Index reports that Calgary, Canada; Denver, Colorado; Honolulu, Hawaii; San Francisco, California; Seattle, Washington and Toronto, Canada are leading … Read more

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Architecture Billings Index Shows Slight Contraction

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Following a generally positive performance in 2015, the Architecture Billings Index has begun this year modestly dipping back into negative terrain. As a leading economic indicator of construction activity, the ABI reflects the approximate 9-12-month lead time between architecture billings and construction spending. The American Institute of Architects reported the January ABI score was 49.6, down slightly from the mark of 51.3 in the previous month. This score reflects a minor decrease in design services (any score above 50 indicates an increase in billings). The new projects inquiry index was 55.3, down from a reading of 60.5 … Read more

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Dodge Momentum Index Moves Higher in January

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NEW YORK, N.Y. – The Dodge Momentum Index rose 2.4 percent in January to 126.4 (2000=100) from its December reading of 123.4. The index is a monthly measure of the first (or initial) report for nonresidential building projects in planning, which have been shown to lead construction spending for nonresidential buildings by a full year. The increase in January was the result of a 3.3 percent increase in institutional projects, and a 1.6 percent increase in commercial projects. On a year-over-year basis, the overall index is 1.7 percent higher even though the commercial portion is down 6.8 percent. Commercial planning intentions … Read more

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