Architecture Billings Index positive for second straight month
Posted
01/18/2012
After showing struggling business conditions for most of 2011,
the Architecture Billings Index (ABI) has now reached positive
terrain in consecutive months. As a leading economic
indicator of construction activity, the ABI reflects the
approximate nine to twelve month lag time between architecture
billings and construction spending. The American Institute of
Architects (AIA) reported the December ABI score was 52.0,
following the exact same mark in November. This score
reflects an overall increase in demand for design services (any
score above 50 indicates an increase in billings). The new
projects inquiry index was 64.0, down just a point from a reading
of 65.0 the previous month.
- Regional averages: South (54.2), Midwest (53.1),
Northeast (52.6), West (45.1)
- Sector index breakdown: multi-family residential (54.3),
commercial / industrial (54.1),institutional (51.3), mixed practice
(44.5)
- Project inquiries index: 64.0 http://www.aia.org