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

Ethan Bernard is a reporter and editor for Steel Market Update. He previously worked for American Metal Market as a copy editor in the New York office for two years starting in 2008. Later, he copy edited AMM’s monthly magazine on a freelance basis from 2015 until 2017. With experience in financial copywriting and textbook publishing, he holds a BA in Comparative Literature from UC Berkeley, and an MFA. in Creative Writing from New York University. He can be reached at ethan@steelmarketupdate.com or 724-759-7871.

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