The Dodge Momentum Index, issued by Dodge Data & Analytics, fell 2.6% in November to 123.3 from the revised October reading of 126.5. The institutional component of the Momentum Index fell 4.4%, while the commercial component lost 1.6%.
Read More
Total construction starts rose 12% in October to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $787.9 billon. While sizeable, the increase does not erase September’s substantial pullback in starts. All three major categories moved higher over the month, nonbuilding starts rose 25%, nonresidential buildings increased 19%, while residential activity gained 2%. “October’s gain was welcome news following the large step back in starts during the previous month,” stated Richard Branch, Chief Economist for Dodge Data & Analytics. “The month’s increase, however, does not mean all is well with the economy and construction sector. The economy lost traction as the stimulus provided by the CARES Act ended. With the next wave of COVID-19 infections looming, the economy will continue to lose steam until more fiscal stimulus is provided and a vaccine has been widely adopted. Until that has occurred, the construction sector will continue to be volatile.”
Read More
Dodge Data & Analytics yesterday released its 2021 Dodge Construction Outlook. “The COVID-19 pandemic and recession has had a profound impact on the U.S. economy, leading to a deep drop off in construction starts in the first half of 2020,” stated Richard Branch, Chief Economist for Dodge Data & Analytics. “While the recovery is underway, the road to full recovery will be long and fraught with potential potholes. After losing an estimated 14% in 2020 to $738 billion, total construction starts will regain just 4% in 2021.”
Read More
The Dodge Momentum Index, issued by Dodge Data & Analytics, fell 1.8% in October to 127.5 (2000=100) from the revised September reading of 129.8. The commercial component of the Momentum Index lost 4.4% over the month, but the institutional component gained 3.3%.
Read More
Dodge Data & Analytics reported today that total construction starts dipped 18% in September to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $667.7 billion, essentially taking back August’s gain. While some of this decline is certainly payback from several large projects entering start in August, the drop in activity brought total construction starts below levels seen in June and July.
Read More
The Dodge Momentum Index, issued by Dodge Data & Analytics, rose 3.7% in September. The Momentum Index has made steady, albeit slow, progress since hitting a nadir in June. In the third quarter, the Momentum Index gained 2.2% over the previous three months.
Read More
Total construction starts rose 19% in August to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $793.3 billion, according to Dodge Data & Analytics. Gains were seen in all three major building sectors: nonresidential building starts rose 16% and residential building climbed 12%, while nonbuilding construction jumped 40% over the month. While large projects certainly influenced the August gains, removing those projects would still have resulted in a gain for the month.
Read More
Dodge Data & Analytics reports that the Dodge Momentum Index increased 1.8% in August. The commercial component rose 3.3%, while the institutional component moved 1.2% lower. The August increase in the overall Momentum Index is the second consecutive rise and a further sign that the construction sector continues to post a modest recovery following the large declines in April and June. This recovery, though, is uneven.
Read More
Total construction starts fell 7% in July to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $631.6 billion, according to Dodge Data & Analytics. The decline was due to a significant pullback in the nonbuilding segment, which fell 31% from June to July. Nonresidential building starts rose 3% while residential building starts increased 2%.
Read More
This month’s increase in the Dodge Momentum Index was the first in all of 2020. Since December 2019, the Momentum Index has lost 18% with most of the decline coming in April when the COVID-19 pandemic led to numerous business shutdowns across the country. The pullback has largely come from institutional planning, rather than commercial plans.
Read More