An increase in the overall demand for design services has been recorded for the 19th consecutive month, according to statistics contained in the August Architecture Billings Index (ABI) published this week by the American Institute of Architects (AIA). The ABI score is now up to 53.3, representing a 2.3 point increase from July’s recorded 51.0 figure.
The increase was driven by new project inquiries, which rose to 57.9 from 56.1 in July despite a registered decrease in the design contracts score to 52.3 from last month’s peak 52.9. Given the parameters of the survey (any score above 50 indicates an increase), the findings indicate an overall positive trajectory for the design industry nationwide.
“While a strengthening billings score is encouraging, the flat scoring across regions and sectors is indicative of a nationwide deceleration over the next several months,” the AIA's Chief Economist Kermit Baker said in a statement. “A variety of economic storm clouds continue to gather, but since design activity continues to increase, we can expect at least another 9–12-month runway before building construction activity is negatively affected.”
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