Architecture Billings Expanded to 53.0 in May from April's 50.9

Washington, DC, June 21, 2017-The American Institute of Architects (AIA) reported the May Architecture Billings Index (ABI) score was 53.0, up from a score of 50.9 in the previous month.

This score reflects an increase in design services (any score above 50 indicates an increase in billings).

The new projects inquiry index was 62.4, up from a reading of 60.2 the previous month, while the new design contracts index increased from 53.2 to 54.8.

“The fact that the data surrounding both new project inquiries and design contracts have remained positive every month this year, while reaching their highest scores for the year, is a good indication that both the architecture and construction sectors will remain healthy for the foreseeable future,” AIA chief economist, Kermit Baker, Hon. AIA, PhD. “This growth hasn’t been an overnight escalation, but rather a steady, stable increase.”

For May, the regional averages were as follows: south, 56.1; west, 52.3; Midwest, 50.4; and northeast, 46.5.

The sector index breakdown was mixed practice, 55.8; multi-family residential, 51.3; commercial / industrial, 51.2; and institutional, 51.2.

The project inquiries index was 62.4, and the design contracts index was 54.8.

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