Total construction starts fell 1% in March to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1.06 trillion, according to Dodge Construction Network. Nonresidential building starts fell 9%, while nonbuilding starts improved by 7%, and residential starts moved 1% higher. Highway and bridge starts rose 15%. On a year-to-date basis through March total construction starts were up 13% from the first three…
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New Home Sales Post Solid Gain in March
Despite higher interest rates last month, new home sales rose in March due to limited inventory of existing homes. However, the pace of new home sales will be under pressure in April as mortgage rates moved above 7% this month, which is expected to moderate sales and increase the use of builder sales incentives this spring.
Read MoreHousing Starts Fall on Interest Rate, Financing Concerns
Housing starts fell in March with interest rates somewhat higher than expected last month as the latest inflation readings failed to show improvement. Builders are also still facing higher supply-side costs and tighter lending conditions.
Read MoreDodge Momentum Index Falls in March
The Dodge Momentum Index (DMI), issued by Dodge Construction Network, fell 8.6% in March to 164.0 (2000=100) from the revised February reading of 179.5. Over the month, commercial planning fell 3.2% and institutional planning dropped 17.2%.
Read MoreRail Traffic Update
Total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 450,142 carloads and intermodal units, up 1.6% compared with the same week last year.
Read MoreConstruction Spending Dips in February; Up for Year
Construction spending during February 2024 was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $2,091.5 billion, 0.3% (±0.8%) below the revised January estimate of $2,096.9 billion. The February figure is 10.7% (±1.3%) above the February 2023 estimate of $1,889.6 billion. During the first two months of this year, construction spending amounted to $298.1 billion, 11.9% (±1.3%) above the $266.5 billion…
Read MoreInterest Rates, Demand Push Single-Family Starts Higher
Pent-up demand, moderating interest rates and a lack of existing inventory helped push single-family starts in February to their highest level since April 2022. Overall housing starts increased 10.7% in February to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.52 million units, according to a report from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Census Bureau. The…
Read MoreDodge Momentum Index Dips in February
The Dodge Momentum Index (DMI), issued by Dodge Construction Network, fell 1.4% in February to 180.5 (2000=100) from the revised January reading of 183.0. Over the month, commercial planning fell 2.3% and institutional planning ticked up 0.1%. “Weaker office and healthcare planning constrained nonresidential planning in February,” stated Sarah Martin, associate director of forecasting for Dodge. “However, the Index remains…
Read MoreNew Home Permits Down Despite Market Need
While the small increase in the number of new homes hitting the market in 2023 could seem encouraging, it’s still underwhelming given the current housing shortage and increasing demand, according to Point2, an international real estate search portal, a division of Yardi Systems Inc. Last year, 1,450,000 new homes were made available for buyers and renters in the U.S. This…
Read MoreConstruction Spending Dips in January; Up Year Over Year
Construction spending during January 2024 was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $2,102.4 billion, 0.2% (±0.8%) below the revised December estimate of $2,105.8 billion, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The January figure is 11.7% (±1.5%) above the January 2023 estimate of $1,882.2 billion. In January, the estimated seasonally adjusted annual rate of public construction spending was $479.0…
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