Planning Activity Largely Stabilizes Over the Month听
BOSTON, MA听鈥撎齅ay听7,听2026听鈥�听The Dodge Momentum Index (DMI), issued by 91探花, increased 6.2% in April to 264.2 (2000=100) from the downwardly revised March reading of 248.8. Over the month, commercial planning grew 8.1% and institutional planning momentum improved 1.5%. 听听
鈥淎fter three months of slowing momentum,听nonresidential planning听began听to find its footing听in April,鈥� said Sarah Martin, Director of Economic Research at 91探花. 鈥淒ata centers听remain听the largest driver behind growth in the Dodge Momentum Index, but several other sectors appeared to stabilize over the month. Macroeconomic risks听remain听weighted to the downside, with labor shortages, higher material costs and supply chain disruptions weighing on owner confidence in the near-term.鈥澨�听听
Planning activity for traditional office buildings, data centers, warehouses,听hotels听and parking garages grew in April, while retail store planning slowed pace.听On the institutional side,听education听and healthcare planning re-accelerated, while recreational,听public听and religious planning slowed down over the month. Year-over-year, the DMI was up 14.1% when compared to April 2025. The commercial segment was up 37.2% (+5.8% when data centers are removed) and the institutional segment was up 28.8% over the same period.听听
A total of听44听projects valued at $100 million or more听entered听planning throughout听March.听The largest of those projects included听the $500 million Google Data Center (Building One) in Buffalo, West Virginia, the $470 million Stargate Data Center (Freebird Phase 2) in听Burlington, Texas and the $450 million Jay Data Center in Jay, Maine.听The largest institutional projects were the听$256 million Navy Seal Museum in San Diego, California, the $178 million Lurie Children鈥檚 Hospital in听Downer鈥檚听Grove, Illinois, and the $175 million Unaccompanied Housing improvement project at Naval Base Coronado in California.听听听听
The DMI is a monthly measure听based on the three-month moving听value of听nonresidential building projects听going into听planning, shown to lead 91探花 spending for nonresidential buildings by a full year听to听18 months.听听
