Steel Markets

Dodge Momentum Index Pushes Higher in May

Written by David Schollaert

June 7, 2022

The Dodge Momentum Index moved 7% higher in May, gaining ground on the upward revised reading for the month prior, according to data and analytics from the Dodge Construction Network. The index registered 176.2 in May, up from 165.2 the month prior.

The index measures data about planned nonresidential building projects to track spending in the sector. For May, the institutional component of the Momentum Index rose 9% and the commercial component increased 6%.

May’s increase in the headline index, according to the report, pushed the level of planning above the most recent cyclical high reached in November 2021.

During the month of May, commercial planning was led higher by an increase in office and hotel projects. Institutional planning saw a boost in education and healthcare projects entering planning.

Compared to May 2021, the overall Momentum Index was 17% higher last month. The institutional component was up 8%, and the commercial component was 24% higher on a year-over-year basis.

Dodge 2022 5

The report noted that a total of 19 projects with a value of $100 million or more entered planning in May. The leading commercial projects were the $333 million Bitcoin Mining Facility (a large computing building) in Corsicana, Texas, and the $300 million Gun Lake Hotel and Resort in Wayland, Mich. The leading institutional projects were the $250 million Drexel University life sciences building in Philadelphia, Pa., and the $160 million Colorado Research Exchange life sciences campus in Broomfield, Colo.

Nonresidential building projects continue to steadily enter the planning cycle despite higher interest rates and fear of recession, the report said. While higher prices and labor shortages may result in projects reaching ground-breaking later in 2022 or early 2023, they provide hope that the construction sector will be able to withstand a potential economic slowdown fed by higher interest rates.

By David Schollaert, David@SteelMarketUpdate.com

An interactive history of the Dodge Momentum Index is available on our website. If you need assistance logging into or navigating the website, please contact us at info@SteelMarketUpdate.com.

David Schollaert

David Schollaert is deputy editor-in-chief for Steel Market Update. David joined SMU after more than a decade in the metals and mining industry in a myriad of different roles. Much of his early experience and expertise were within the coverage and analysis of steel-making raw materials and served previously as senior editor of the CRU Prices Service. Most recently, however, before his return to market analysis, David held roles as a metals buyer and an operations manager for raw material suppliers. He can be contacted at david@steelmarketupdate.com or 724-720-1008.

Read more from David Schollaert

Latest in Steel Markets