Architecture Billings Anemic in May

June 21, 2019

Little Movement for ABI in May


Following a 2.7 point uptick in April, the ABI decreased by just 0.3 points, moving from 50.5 to 50.2 for the month of May. Despite the lower number, any score above 50 indicates growth in architecture billings.

“The last four consecutive months, firm billings have either decreased or been flat, the longest period of that level of sustained softness since 2012,” said AIA Chief Economist Kermit Baker, PhD, Hon. AIA.

The project inquiries and design contract indexes dropped by 4.7 and 1.2 points, landing at 56.2 and 50.9 respectively.

Baker added, “while both inquiries into new projects and the value of new design contracts remained positive, they both softened in May, another sign the amount of pending work in the pipeline at firms may be starting to stabilize.”

ABI Inches Back Into Positive Territory in April

May 23, 2019

Billings Increased Slightly Last Month

After dropping 2.5 points in March, the ABI rebounded by 2.7 points to land at 50.5 for the month of April.
“In contrast to 2018, conditions throughout the construction sector recently have become more …

Architecture Billings End 25-Month Streak

April 17, 2019

ABI Negative in March

The Architecture Billings Index score for February was 47.8, down 2.5 points from the February score of 50.3. This marked the end of a two year run of positive billings.
“Though billings haven’t contracted in …

Growth Slows in February, Remains Positive

March 21, 2019

ABI Pulls Back in February

The Architecture Billings Index score for February was 50.3, losing 5 points from the January score of 55.3.
“Overall business conditions at architecture firms across the country have remained generally healthy,” said American Institute …

Billings Growth Strong in January

February 20, 2019

ABI Starts the Year Strong

The Architecture Billings Index score for January was 55.3, rising 4.3 points from the revised December score of 51.0.
“The government shutdown affected architecture firms but doesn’t appear to have created a slowdown in …

Architecture Billings Soften in December

January 23, 2019

Tariffs & Government Shutdown Loom

The Architecture Billings Index score for December was 50.4, down 4.3 points from November. Despite the pullback this marked the fifteenth consecutive month of growth in billings.
“Given the concerns over the ongoing tariff …

ABI Moves Up in November

December 26, 2018

Strongest Growth Since January

The Architecture Billings Index score for November was 54.7, up 4.3 points from October. This marked the fourteenth consecutive month of growth in billings.
“Despite some concerns about a potential economic downturn, architecture firms continue …

Architecture Billings Positive But Slow in October

November 16, 2018

Southern Billings Decline After Hurricanes

Growth remained positive overall in October, though billings continued to slow.
The Architecture Billings Index (ABI) score for October was 50.4, down .7 points from 51.1 in September. Any score above 50 indicates growth …

Architecture Billings Slow in September

October 24, 2018

Midwest and Southern activity lead in billings

While growth remained positive for the twelfth consecutive month, architecture billings slowed in September.
The Architecture Billings Index (ABI) score for September was 51.1, down 3.1 points from the previous month. Any …

August ABI Rebounds

September 20, 2018

Firms in the South Leading Growth

The Architecture Billings Index score for August was 54.2, up from July’s reading of 50.7. Any score above 50 indicates growth in billings.
“Billings at architecture firms in the South continue to …