Dodge Momentum Index Increases 1% in April

The Dodge Momentum Index (DMI), a critical forward-looking indicator for nonresidential construction, recorded a 0.9% increase in April to 205.1. However, a deeper analysis reveals this headline growth was almost entirely attributable to a significant surge in data centre project planning, effectively masking a broader malaise across other sectors. Commercial planning nominally grew by 3.3%, yet without the substantial influx of data centre developments, it would have contracted by 2.3%, signalling persistent caution among owners and developers navigating heightened economic and policy uncertainties. Institutional planning experienced a 4.2% decline, with education, healthcare, and government building projects showing waning momentum. While the DMI stands 22% higher year-on-year, excluding data centre contributions reveals a more modest underlying growth of 7% for the overall index, and a 1% year-on-year contraction for commercial planning. This data underscores a highly bifurcated market, where the robust demand for digital infrastructure currently offsets widespread hesitancy in other key construction segments, posing strategic considerations for industry stakeholders. Read More