The newly-released Architecture Billings Index from the American Institute of Architects has indicated a significant decline in billings after posting a total score under 50 for the third month in a row.

The October score of 44.3 offers a slight decrease from September’s total of 44.8. The West and Northeast regions were reporting the biggest impact. The AIA stated that billings were, however, “universally soft” across the entire country.

“This report indicates not only a decrease in billings at firms but also a reduction in the number of clients exploring and committing to new projects, which could potentially impact future billings. The soft conditions were evident across the entire country as well as across all major nonresidential building sectors,” Kermit Baker, the AIA’s Chief Economist, said in a press release.

October ABI Highlights

• Regional averages: Northeast (42.1); South (48.5); Midwest (48.9); West (40.0)
• Sector index breakdown: commercial/industrial (43.7); institutional (49.1); mixed practice (firms that do not have at least half of their billings in any one other category) (44.0); multifamily residential (40.1)
• Project inquiries index: 48.8
• Design contracts index: 46.5

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