Most nonresidential sectors faced slower planning over the month 

BOSTON, MA – April 9, 2025 — The Dodge Momentum Index (DMI), issued by Dodge Construction Network, receded 6.9% in March to 205.6 (2000=100) from the revised February reading of 220.9. Over the month, commercial planning declined 7.8% while institutional planning fell 5.0%.  

“Increased uncertainty around material prices and fiscal policies may have begun to factor into planning decisions throughout March,” stated Sarah Martin, associate director of forecasting at Dodge Construction Network. “While planning data has weakened across most nonresidential sectors this month, activity remains considerably higher than year-ago levels and still suggests steady construction activity in mid-2026.”  

On the commercial side, weaker planning activity for warehouses, data centers and retail stores drove this month’s decline. Meanwhile, hotel and office planning continued to accelerate. On the institutional side, planning activity slowed for education, healthcare and government buildings. In March, the DMI was up 30% when compared to year-ago levels. The commercial segment was up 32% from March 2024. The institutional segment was up 27% over the same period, following a very weak March last year. The influence of data centers on the DMI this year remains substantial. If we remove all data center projects between 2023 and 2025, commercial planning would be up 4% from year-ago levels, and the entire DMI would be up 12%. While momentum decelerated for data centers this month, levels of activity remain very high.  

A total of 25 projects valued at $100 million or more entered planning throughout March. The largest commercial projects included the $400 million Logistics Land Investments Data Center in Bessemer, Alabama, the $340 million expansion to the Ontario Convention Center and Hotel in Ontario, California, and the $300 million Project Cinco Data Center (300 MW) in Natalia, Texas. The largest institutional projects to enter planning were the $500 million ambulatory care building at Scripps San Marcos Medical Center, the $165 million Roanoke High School in Roanoke, Virginia and the $135 million Milken Community School expansion in Los Angeles, California.  

The DMI is a monthly measure of the value of nonresidential building projects going into planning, shown to lead construction spending for nonresidential buildings by a full year. 

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