Another Dip for ABI in November

Demand for architecture design services fell again in November. The Architecture Billings Index score was 49.3, down from 53.1 in October and 53.7 in September. The Index has been up and down throughout 2015. The new projects inquiry index was 58.6, up just barely from 58.5 in October.

“Since architecture firms continue to report that they are bringing in new projects, this volatility in billings doesn’t seem to reflect any underlying weakness in the construction sector,” said AIA Chief Economist Kermit Baker, Hon. AIA, PhD. “Rather, it could reflect the uncertainty of moving ahead with projects given the continued tightness in construction financing and the growing labor shortage problem gripping the entire design and construction industries.”