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

CRU: China hits back with retaliatory tariffs on US
Targets include coal, liquified natural gas, crude oil, and other commodities

ISM: Manufacturing expands in January for first time in years
Following more than two years of contraction, US manufacturing activity rebounded in January according to the Institute for Supply Management.

Tampa Steel Conference: Trade attorney says brace for turbulence
Steel and aluminum have been identified as high priorities for trade

Chicago Business Barometer rises in January
Despite the gain, the index remains below both the levels of November 2024 and the 2024 average.

CSPA asks Canadian government to work against potential tariffs
The Canadian Steel Producers Association (CSPA) has urged Canada to engage with the US administration to avoid the tariffs threatened by the Trump administration by Feb. 1. “The imposition of tariffs on Canadian goods will have an incredibly disruptive impact on our integrated North American supply chains and on our workers and their families,” François […]