Architectural Billings Index Shows Continued Modest Growth in April

Washington, DC, May 18, 2016—The April ABI score was 50.6, down from the mark of 51.9 in the previous month, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) has reported.

This score still reflects an increase in design services.

The new projects inquiry index was 56.9, down from a reading of 58.1 the previous month.

“Architects continue to report a wide range of business conditions, with unusually high variation in design activity across the major building categories,” said AIA chief economist, Kermit Baker, Hon. AIA, PhD. “The strong growth in design contracts—the strongest score for this indicator since last summer—certainly suggests that firms will be reporting growth in billings over the next several months.”

The regional averages were as follows south, 52.2; northeast, 51.5; west, 50.8; and Midwest, 50.8.

The sector index breakdown was multi-family residential, 53.7; commercial/industrial, 52.0; mixed practice, 50.0; and institutional, 49.0.

The project inquiries index was 56.9, and the design contracts index was 54.3.

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