Economy

Dodge Momentum Index keeps rising in May
Written by Ethan Bernard
June 7, 2024
Interest rate stability and growing owner and developer confidence helped push the Dodge Momentum Index (DMI) higher in May.
The DMI registered 179.0 last month, 2.7% above the April reading of 174.3, Dodge Construction Network (DCN) reported on Friday. But this is 7% lower than year-ago levels.
The DMI tracks the value of nonresidential construction projects entering the planning stages. It typically leads construction spending by about 12 months.
“Owners and developers are gaining confidence in 2025 market conditions, alongside more stable and predictable interest rates – spurring stronger commercial activity over the month,” Sarah Martin, associate director of forecasting at Dodge, said in a statement.
The commercial building index was up 5.5% month over month in May, supported by data center planning, according to the network.
However, Martin said after last year’s growth, “institutional planning is decelerating, as high material costs, labor shortages, and elevated interest rates seep into planning decisions.”
Institutional building fell 3.4% in May from April, as healthcare and education planning activity slowed.
Still, Martin noted that the overall DMI remains 40% higher than May 2019 levels, which indicates a steady pipeline of construction projects will be ready to break ground through mid-2025.
A total of 19 projects valued at $100 million or more entered planning throughout the month of May, DCN said.


Ethan Bernard
Read more from Ethan BernardLatest in Economy

Fewer manufacturers optimistic about the economy
PMA’s April report shows that only 16% of surveyed manufacturers anticipate an increase in economic activity in the next three months (down from 23% in March)

Architecture billings continue to slide in March
Architecture firms said billings continued to decline in March, according to the latest Architecture Billings Index (ABI) released by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and Deltek.

Beige Book shows concerns about trade policy
Manufacturing was mixed, but two-thirds of districts said activity was little changed or had declined.

New York state manufacturing index drops again in April
Firms were pessimistic, with the future general business conditions index falling to its second lowest reading in the more than 20-year history of the survey

Construction adds 13,000 jobs in March
The construction sector added 13,000 jobs, seasonally adjusted, in March, but tariffs could undermine the industry.