Analysis
September 11, 2018
Dodge Momentum Index Retreats in August
Written by Sandy Williams
The Dodge Momentum Index fell 2.9 percent in August to a reading of 164.1. The Momentum index is a monthly measure of the initial report for nonresidential building projects in planning.
Commercial construction led the decrease, falling by 6.1 percent after rising 25 percent in the first seven months of 2018.
“While commercial planning did fall in August, the trend remains positive, fueled by strong economic growth and still-healthy real estate fundamentals,” said Dodge Analytics.
The growth rate for projects in planning for institutional building was more restrained. From January through July, institutional projects in planning rose 11 percent and gained another 2.5 percent in August.
Nine projects with a value of $100 million or more entered the planning stage in August.
The Momentum Index, published by Dodge Data & Analytics, is a monthly measure of the first (or initial) report for nonresidential building projects in planning, which has been shown to lead construction spending for nonresidential buildings by a full year.
