NEW YORK, N.Y. – The Dodge Momentum Index jumped 6.1 percent in April to 163.0 (2000=100) from the revised March reading of 153.7. 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. Both components of the momentum index moved higher in April, with the commercial component up 6.3 percent and the institutional component up 5.8 percent. Over the last two months the commercial portion of the index has posted the most aggressive growth, fueled by … Read more

NEW YORK, N.Y. – The Dodge Momentum Index moved 6.1 percent higher in March, rising to 155.0 (2000=100) from the revised February reading of 146.0. 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. March’s gain was the result of a 9.6 percent increase in the commercial component – more than erasing the 5.1 percent decline it had seen the previous month. The gain in the institutional sector meanwhile was milder, moving 1.6 percent higher, … Read more