Dodge Momentum Index Rose 3 Percent in January 2014

The Dodge Momentum Index rose 3 percent in January compared to the previous month, according to McGraw Hill Construction, a division of McGraw Hill Financial. The Momentum Index is a monthly measure of the first (or initial) report for nonresidential building projects in planning, which have been shown to lead construction spending for nonresidential buildings by a full year. January’s relatively strong gain brought the Momentum Index to 121.1 (2000=100), compared to a revised 117.6 in December 2013. Save for two minor dips in June and October 2013, the Momentum Index has been on a steady climb for more than a year. As the environment for new nonresidential development continues to improve, the planning pipeline of nonresidential building projects has grown more active.