Architecture Firm Billings Continue to Contract Heading into 2026

  • Posted on

The AIA/Deltek Architecture Billings Index dropped to 43.8 in January, down from 47.1 in December, signaling a greater number of firms experienced a decline in billings compared to the previous month. In January, inquiries for new projects dropped for the  first time since April 2025, alongside a decline in newly signed design contracts, as client uncertainty persisted and new projects tended to be smaller in scale. Billings decreased across the country, except in the South, where they held steady. Firms in the Midwest, which saw growth in late 2025, are now experiencing declines again. Business conditions remained challenging across all … Read more

Filed under: Economic NewsTagged with: , , ,

AIA/Deltek Releases Latest Architecture Billings Index

  • Posted on

The AIA/Deltek Architecture Billings Index continues to weaken posting a score of 46.2 for July, down from 46.8 in June, indicating that a majority of firms are still experiencing declining firm billings. Inquiries into new work grew slowly but steadily this month, following a brief three-month pause earlier this year. However, design contract values fell again in July as firms struggle to convert inquiries into projects—a challenge persisting alongside declining billings for over two and a half years. Billings have been negative for 31 of the last 34 months. “Business conditions remain challenging for architecture firms nationwide, with billings declining … Read more

Filed under: Economic NewsTagged with: ,

Soft Business Conditions Persist at Architecture Firms

  • Posted on

The AIA/Deltek Architecture Billings Index remained in negative territory in May with a score of 47.2, up from 43.2 in April. Any score below 50 indicates a billings decline, although this month’s score indicates that somewhat fewer firms reported a decline in billings in May than in April. Inquiries into new work increased this month for the first time since January, reflecting the modest degree of stabilization in the economy recently. However, the value of signed design contracts continued to decline, indicating that while clients are starting to explore new projects, they remain hesitant to sign a contract committing to … Read more

Filed under: Economic NewsTagged with: ,

New ABI Report: Architecture Business Conditions Soften

  • Posted on

 The AIA/Deltek Architecture Billings Index score declined to 42.4 in May, as more firms reported a decrease in billings than the month prior. The pipeline of new work coming into firms is showing increasing softness. While inquiries into new projects continue to increase, they did so at a slower pace than in recent months. Additionally, architecture firm billings remained soft across all regions and sectors in May. Billings declined at firms in all regions of the country for the fourth consecutive month, as conditions remained weakest at firms located in the Midwest. The ABI score is a leading economic indicator of construction activity, providing an approximately nine-to-twelve-month glimpse into the future of … Read more

Filed under: Economic NewsTagged with: ,

AIA/Deltek Release Latest Architecture Billings Index

  • Posted on

Architecture firm billings remained soft entering into 2024, with an AIA/Deltek Architecture Billings Index score of 46.2 in January. Any score below 50 indicates decreasing business conditions. “This now marks the lengthiest period of declining billings since 2010, although it is reassuring that the pace of this decline is less rapid and the broader economy showed improvement in January,” said Kermit Baker, Ph.D., AIA Chief Economist. “Firms are seeing growth with inquiries into new projects and value of newly signed design contracts is holding steady, showing potential signs of interest from clients in new projects.” Business conditions remained weak at firms in all regions of the country except the Midwest, where modest … Read more

Filed under: Economic NewsTagged with: ,