WASHINGTON, D.C. — Following a nine-month stretch of positive billings, the Architecture Billings Index showed no increase in design activity in January. As a leading economic indicator of construction activity, the ABI reflects the approximate 9-12-month lead time between architecture billings and construction spending. The American Institute of Architects reported the January ABI score was 49.9, down from a mark of 52.7 in December. This score reflects a very modest decrease in design services (any score above 50 indicates an increase in billings). The new projects inquiry index was 58.7, down from the reading of 59.1 the previous month. “This […]

Construction spending rose in December to a six-year high of $982 billion as public construction for the year increased for the first time since 2009, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said President Obama’s budget proposal and his suggested infrastructure funding program should help construction spending continue to grow by accelerating debate about the best way to fund repairs to the nation’s aging roads, bridges, and other public infrastructure. “For the first time in nearly a decade there was growth in all three major construction segments—public, private nonresidential and residential,” said Ken Simonson, […]

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The nonresidential building market was hamstrung by weather-related delays during the first part of the 2014, but conditions improved dramatically throughout the rest of the year to finish with greater than anticipated spending levels. The commercial construction sector is now looking at double-digit increases in 2015, led by vigorous levels of demand for hotels and office buildings. The American Institute of Architects" semi-annual Consensus Construction Forecast, a survey of the nation's leading construction forecasters, is projecting that spending will see a 7.7 percent increase in 2015, with next year's projection nudging up to 8.2 percent. “This is […]