July Marks 6th Consecutive Positive Month for Architecture Billings

Washington, DC, August 18, 2016— The American Institute of Architects (AIA) reported the July Architecture Billings Index (ABI) score was 51.5, down from the mark of 52.6 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 57.5, down from a reading of 58.6 the previous month. The ABI was positive in July for the sixth consecutive month, and tenth out of the last twelve months as demand across all project types continued to increase.

“The uncertainty surrounding the presidential election is causing some funding decisions regarding larger construction projects to be delayed or put on hold for the time being,” said AIA chief economist, Kermit Baker, Hon. AIA, PhD. “It’s likely that these concerns will persist up until the election, and therefore we would expect higher levels of volatility in the design and construction sector in the months ahead.”

The regional averages were as follows South, 56.9; Midwest, 50.1; Northeast, 49.3; and West, 49.2.

The sector breakdown was multi-family residential, 55.2; institutional, 50.7; mixed practice, 50.5; and commercial / industrial, 50.3.

The project inquiries index was 57.5, and the design contracts index was 51.8.

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