Dodge Momentum Index Rises 2.4% in September as Education, Healthcare Planning Surges

Nonresidential construction planning increased 2.4% month over month in September, led by a 9.4% jump in institutional planning, according to Dodge Construction Network's Dodge Momentum Index released Wednesday. Commercial planning fell 1.3%. "Institutional planning led this month's growth, alongside a strong uptick in education, healthcare, and government building planning," said Sarah Martin, director of economic research at Dodge Construction Network. She added that rising planning should yield marginally stronger construction spending in those sectors in late 2027. Institutional planning rose 17.2% year over year, lifting the overall index 3.7% above its September 2025 level. Retail, hotel, office and parking garage planning improved, but weaker data center and warehouse activity offset those gains. Without data center work, commercial planning would have dropped 14.9% year over year instead of 3%. Forty-five projects valued at $100 million or more entered planning, including a $480 million Pennsylvania data center and a $346 million Duke Raleigh Hospital addition.