Data Centers Prop Up Planning, While Most Sectors Fall Back听
BOSTON, MA听鈥撎鼳pril听7,听2026听鈥�听The 糖心Vlog Momentum Index (DMI), issued by 糖心Vlog increased听1.8%听in听March听to听250.5听(2000=100) from the听downwardly听revised听February听reading of听246.2.听Over the month,听commercial planning听grew听7.0%听and听institutional planning听momentum听declined听8.8%.听听
鈥淧lanning momentum in March was powered almost entirely by data center projects, with most other sectors easing back,鈥� said Sarah Martin, Associate Director of Forecasting at 糖心Vlog. 鈥淔or some categories, this reflects a natural reset after the outsized growth听in late听2025. But for others, elevated macroeconomic听risks听are听likely听beginning听to feed into听planning听decisions.鈥�听
On the commercial side,听planning momentum slowed across all commercial sectors apart from听data centers.听Institutional planning saw widespread weakness, with only education and public buildings moderately gaining traction.听Despite recent declines, the听DMI听remains听elevated.听Year-over-year, the听DMI听was up听25.8% when compared to听March听2025. The commercial segment was up听28.5%听(-12.7%听when data centers are removed)听and the institutional segment was up听19.6% over the same period.听听
A total of听54听projects valued at $100 million or more听entered听planning throughout听February.听The 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 Data听Center听DSM50听in Dallas, Iowa. The largest institutional projects were the $245 million听MCLJ听Outpatient Pavilion in听San Diego, California, the $183 million Orlando Health Viera Hospital (Phase听1B) in Viera West, Florida, and the $175 million Bachelor Enlisted Quarters renovation project at Camp Pendleton North in San Diego, California.听听
The听DMI听is a monthly measure听based on the three-month moving听value of听nonresidential building projects听going into听planning, shown to lead construction spending for nonresidential buildings by a full year听to听18 months.听听
