November 21, 2019

ABI Up After Two Months Down

The Architecture Billings Index score for October was 52.0, gaining 2.3 points from the September score of 49.7. Regionally, billings were up in the South, Northeast, and Midwest, with the West remaining the same.

“Although ongoing uncertainty over the direction of economic growth persists, a strong stock market and growing payrolls at U.S. businesses continue to generate more construction projects,” said AIA Chief Economist Kermit Baker, PhD, Hon. AIA.

The project inquiries index decreased from 59.0 to 57.9. The design contracts index decreased from 54.4 to 52.9. All sector breakdowns: multi-family residential, institutional, and commercial/industrial posted gains.

Baker added, “With most regional and sector billing scores at architecture firms improving from the previous month, we’re seeing a bit of a rebound from disappointing levels of design activity in recent months.”