Architectural Index Dipped in January

After showing positive momentum during the fourth quarter of 2010, the Architecture Billings Index (ABI) slipped almost four points in January. As a leading economic indicator of construction activity, the ABI reflects the approximate nine-to-12 month lag time between architecture billings and construction spending. The American Institute of Architects (AIA) reported the January ABI score was 50.0, down from a reading of 53.9 the previous month. This score reflects stable demand for design services (any score above 50 indicates an increase in billings). The new projects inquiry index was 56.5, down sharply from a mark of 61.6 in December.

Every January the AIA research department updates the seasonal factors used to calculate the ABI, resulting in a recalibration of recent ABI values.
 

"This slowdown is indicative of what is likely to be a very gradual improvement in business conditions at architecture firms for the better part of this year," said AIA Chief Economist, Kermit Baker, PhD, Hon. AIA. "We've been taking a cautiously optimistic approach for the last several months and there is no reason at this point to change that outlook. There are still too many firms that continue to see weak market conditions to expect a dramatic increase in the demand for services in the design and construction industry."

Key January ABI highlights:

• Regional averages: Midwest (56.4), South (51.5), Northeast (50.4), West (47.3)
• Sector index breakdown: commercial/industrial (54.6), multi-family residential (53.7), institutional (51.3), mixed practice (48.7)
• Project inquiries index: 56.5

About the AIA Architecture Billings Index: The Architecture Billings Index is derived from a monthly "Work-on-the-Boards" survey and produced by the AIA Economics & Market Research Group. Based on a comparison of data compiled since the survey's inception in 1995 with figures from the Department of Commerce on Construction Put in Place, the findings amount to a leading economic indicator that provides an approximately nine to twelve month glimpse into the future of nonresidential construction activity. The diffusion indexes contained in the full report are derived from a monthly survey sent to a panel of AIA member-owned firms. Participants are asked whether their billings increased, decreased, or stayed the same in the month that just ended

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