AIA Billings Index Falls Slightly on October but Services Still Expanding

Washington, DC, November 19, 2015—The American Institute of Architects (AIA) reported the October ABI score was 53.1, down slightly from the mark of 53.7 in the previous month. This score still reflects an increase in design services (any score above 50 indicates an increase in billings). The new projects inquiry index was 58.5, down from a reading of 61.0 the previous month.

“Allowing for the possibility of occasional and minor backsliding, we expect healthy business conditions for the design and construction industry to persist moving into next year,” said AIA chief economist Kermit Baker, Hon. AIA, PhD. “One area of note is that the multi-family project sector has come around the last two months after trending down for the better part of the year.”

Regional averages for October were south, 56.2; west, 54.4; Midwest, 52.6; northeast, 49.2.

The sector index breakdown was as follows commercial / industrial, 55.1; mixed practice, 54.9; multi-family residential, 52.5; institutional, 51.4.

The project inquiries index score was 58.5, and the design contracts index was 51.7.

Print the Article