Dodge Momentum Index Falls 9% in October
Nonresidential construction planning slowed in October, led by weaker commercial activity tied to data centers and warehouses.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Construction
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The Dodge Momentum Index declined 9.0% in October to 260.4, according to Dodge Construction Network. The drop follows a revised September reading of 286.0 and reflects slower planning across several nonresidential sectors.
Why it matters
The index leads nonresidential construction spending by a full year to 18 months, so the planning slowdown signals potential shifts in future building activity. Mounting macroeconomic pressures are constraining several commercial sectors.
Commercial planning fell 13.4% in October and was down 17.6% year over year, while the commercial segment excluding data centers declined 16.6% year over year. Retail stores were the only commercial sector to grow in October, and 23 projects valued at $100 million or more entered planning.
The players
Dodge Construction Network
Dodge Construction Network is a construction data and analytics company that publishes the Dodge Momentum Index, a leading indicator of nonresidential construction activity.
The details
Slower planning for data centers, warehouses, parking garages, office buildings and hotels drove the commercial decline. Institutional planning fell 1.5% over October, though it remained up sharply from a year earlier.
Timeline
October 2025 serves as the baseline year-over-year comparison period for the index.
September 2026 reading of 286.0 was later revised downward.
October 2026 index declined 9.0% to 260.4.
Market Landscape
The Dodge Momentum Index is designed to lead nonresidential construction spending by a full year to 18 months, so its monthly movements serve as a forward-looking gauge for the sector. The October slowdown, concentrated in data center and warehouse planning, shows that the commercial construction boom tied to those projects may be cooling.
Shifts in commercial construction planning can affect the availability of office, retail and warehouse space over the coming years. Contractors, suppliers and workers in those sectors may see changes in project volume as planning activity moves.
The takeaway
Monitoring the Dodge Momentum Index can help businesses anticipate shifts in nonresidential construction demand before they appear in spending data. Companies tied to data centers and warehouses should watch planning trends closely over the next several quarters.
Further reading
For more on the broader industry, explore Construction coverage in the United States.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Tedmag.
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