Steel Markets

Dodge Momentum Index Declines in December
Written by Sandy Williams
January 8, 2019
The Dodge Momentum Index, a monthly measure of the first report for nonresidential building projects in planning, fell 4.9 percent in December to an index reading of 151.9.
The decline was due to a 7.6 percent drop in the commercial component of the index, while the institutional component fell only 0.7 percent.
Nonresidential planning made headway in 2018 overall, gaining 4.3 percent, but nearly all during the first half of the year. During the second half of 2018, the Momentum Index fell 4.4 percent as commercial projects plummeted and institutional building projects in planning remained essentially flat.
“This suggests that spending for commercial buildings may be reaching its cyclical peak, while spending for institutional buildings continues to be supported by the stabilizing influence of public funding for projects such as schools and transportation terminals,” said Dodge Data & Analytics.
Seven projects valued at $100 million or more entered the planning phase during December.
Below is a graph showing the history of the Dodge Momentum Index. You will need to view the graph on our website to use its interactive features; you can do so by clicking here. If you need assistance logging in to or navigating the website, please contact us at info@SteelMarketUpdate.com.

Sandy Williams
Read more from Sandy WilliamsLatest in Steel Markets

Thin demand keeps plate prices hovering at lowest levels since February
Participants in the domestic plate market say spot prices appear to have hit the floor, and they continue to linger there. They say demand for steel remains thin, with plate products no exception.

Worldsteel: Global steel demand flat, but modest rebound forecast for 2026
The World Steel Association (worldsteel) Short Range Outlook for global steel demand predicts that 2025’s steel demand will clock in at the same level as in 2024. In its October report, the Brussels-based association stated that this year’s steel demand will reach ~1,750 million metric tons (mt). The organization forecasts a 1.3% demand rebound in 2026, pushing […]

CRU: China’s indirect steel exports find new destination markets
The boom in China’s direct steel exports has not stopped this year, even with a rise in protectionist measures globally. The increase is driven by...

Great Lakes iron ore cargoes down in September as Cleveland tonnage slips
Iron ore shipments from US Great Lakes ports fell sharply in September, per the latest from the Lake Carriers’ Association (LCA) of Westlake, Ohio.

HVAC equipment shipments down through August
Although total HVAC shipments fell in August, YTD volumes remain relatively strong. Nearly 15 million units were produced in the first eight months of the year, the fourth-highest rate in our 19-year data history.