Data Centers Prop Up Planning, While Most Sectors Fall BackÌý
BOSTON, MAÌý–ÌýAprilÌý7,Ìý2026Ìý—ÌýThe ¶¶ÒõÏÂÔØÍøÕ¾ Momentum Index (DMI), issued by ¶¶ÒõÏÂÔØÍøÕ¾ increasedÌý1.8%ÌýinÌýMarchÌýtoÌý250.5Ìý(2000=100) from theÌýdownwardlyÌýrevisedÌýFebruaryÌýreading ofÌý246.2.ÌýOver the month,Ìýcommercial planningÌýgrewÌý7.0%ÌýandÌýinstitutional planningÌýmomentumÌýdeclinedÌý8.8%.ÌýÌý
“Planning momentum in March was powered almost entirely by data center projects, with most other sectors easing back,â€� said Sarah Martin, Associate Director of Forecasting at ¶¶ÒõÏÂÔØÍøÕ¾. “For some categories, this reflects a natural reset after the outsized growthÌýin lateÌý2025. But for others, elevated macroeconomicÌýrisksÌýareÌýlikelyÌýbeginningÌýto feed intoÌýplanningÌýdecisions.â€�Ìý
On the commercial side,Ìýplanning momentum slowed across all commercial sectors apart fromÌýdata centers.ÌýInstitutional planning saw widespread weakness, with only education and public buildings moderately gaining traction.ÌýDespite recent declines, theÌýDMIÌýremainsÌýelevated.ÌýYear-over-year, theÌýDMIÌýwas upÌý25.8% when compared toÌýMarchÌý2025. The commercial segment was upÌý28.5%Ìý(-12.7%Ìýwhen data centers are removed)Ìýand the institutional segment was upÌý19.6% over the same period.ÌýÌý
A total ofÌý54Ìýprojects valued at $100 million or moreÌýenteredÌýplanning throughoutÌýFebruary.ÌýThe largest of those projects included 17 individual buildings, each valued at $500 million, for the Amazon Data Center Campus in Hamlet, North Carolina. Similarly, ten individual buildings, each valued at $250 million, entered planning in relation to the Microsoft DataÌýCenterÌýDSM50Ìýin Dallas, Iowa. The largest institutional projects were the $245 millionÌýMCLJÌýOutpatient Pavilion inÌýSan Diego, California, the $183 million Orlando Health Viera Hospital (PhaseÌý1B) in Viera West, Florida, and the $175 million Bachelor Enlisted Quarters renovation project at Camp Pendleton North in San Diego, California.ÌýÌý
TheÌýDMIÌýis a monthly measureÌýbased on the three-month movingÌývalue ofÌýnonresidential building projectsÌýgoing intoÌýplanning, shown to lead construction spending for nonresidential buildings by a full yearÌýtoÌý18 months.ÌýÌý


