Architecture Firm Billings Continue to Contract Heading into 2026

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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

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Soft Business Conditions Persist at Architecture Firms

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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

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New Crane Index, Quarterly Cost Report from Rider Levett Bucknall

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Rider Levett Bucknall has released its latest Crane Index and Quarterly Cost Report, providing an eye-opening perspective on the North American construction industry in 14 key markets. The latest report, with data current to mid-third quarter of 2024, shows the national average increase in construction costs was 1.07%, the lowest it’s been in the last three years. Boston, Massachusetts; Denver, Colorado; Honolulu, Hawaii; New York, New York; Seattle, Washington and Washington, D.C. all experienced increases over the national average this quarter. Chicago, Illinois; Las Vegas, Nevada; Los Angeles, California; Phoenix, Arizona; Portland, Oregon and San Francisco, California experienced gains that … Read more

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