The Dodge Momentum Index, issued by Dodge Construction Network, increased 6.1% in April to 173.9 (2000=100) from the revised March reading of 164.0. Over the month, commercial planning improved 12.6% and institutional planning dropped 6.3%. A flood of data center projects entered planning in April, causing robust growth in the commercial segment of the DMI, while traditional office and hotel projects continued to face slower momentum. Warehouse planning was basically flat. On the institutional side, education and healthcare planning activity receded again – in part, driven by another month of weak life science and R&D laboratory activity. Year over year, the DMI was 1% lower than in April 2023. The commercial segment was … Read more
Dodge Momentum Index: Nonresidential Planning Activity Remains Historically Elevated
The Dodge Momentum Index , issued by Dodge Construction Network, decreased 1% in November to 179.2 (2000=100) from the revised October reading of 181.7. Over the month, the commercial and institutional components both fell 1%. “While both portions of the Momentum Index saw slower momentum in planning, overall levels remain steady and will support construction spending in 2024 and 2025,” stated Sarah Martin, associate director of forecasting for DCN. “Nonresidential planning activity will remain constrained from stronger growth amidst ongoing labor and construction cost challenges.” Excluding data center activity, all commercial segments saw declines in November. On the institutional side, … Read more
Dodge Momentum Index Recedes 1%
The Dodge Momentum Index, issued by Dodge Construction Network, declined .9% in July to 193.4 (2000=100) from the revised June reading of 195.1. Over the month, the commercial component of the DMI remained relatively flat, ticking down .2%, while the institutional component fell 1.9%. All commercial sectors pulled back, or remained flat, over the month of July. Hotel planning saw the largest month-over-month decay, marking four months of consecutive decline in the sector. July also saw a deceleration in the number of education and healthcare projects entering planning — the two largest institutional segments. While two sizable public projects entered … Read more
Dodge Momentum Index Declines in December
The Dodge Momentum Index fell 3% in December to 166.4 (2000=100), down from the revised November reading of 170.7. The momentum index, issued by Dodge Construction Network, is a monthly measure of the initial report for nonresidential building projects in planning, which have been shown to lead construction spending for nonresidential buildings by a full year. In December, commercial planning fell 4%, and institutional planning slipped 1%. Despite these declines, 2021 was a banner year for the Dodge Momentum Index—despite the lingering risks of COVID-19 and low demand for some types of nonresidential buildings. Throughout the year, the overall momentum … Read more
Pullback in Commercial, Institutional Planning Ends 6-Month Consecutive Gains
Following six months of consecutive gains, the Dodge Momentum Index fell to 165.8 (2000=100) in June, down 5% from the revised May reading of 175.1. The momentum index, issued by Dodge Data & Analytics, 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 decline in June was the result of losses in both institutional planning, which fell 7%, and commercial planning, which lost 4%. . Uncertain demand for some building types (such as retail and hotels), higher material … Read more