There’s good news for the commercial market, from Joe Lundgren, of Joseph Lundgren Consulting. This globally-recognized product and marketing expert in the ceramic and stone worldwide markets reported that the Architecture Billings Index (ABI) is continuing its meteoric rebound. The ABI recorded its third consecutive month of positive billings, according to a new report today from The American Institute of Architects (AIA).
Lundgren said, AIA’s ABI score for April rose to 57.9 compared to 55.6 in March (any score above 50 indicates an increase in billings). Neither score has been achieved since before the Great Recession. During April, new project inquiries and new design contracts reached record highs with scores of 70.8 and 61.7 respectively.
“This recent acceleration in the demand for design services demonstrates that both consumers and businesses are feeling much more confident about the economic outlook,” said AIA Chief Economist Kermit Baker, Hon. AIA, PhD. “The pent-up demand for new and retrofitted facilities is keeping architecture firms in all regions and building sectors busy.”
Lundgren reported, that key ABI highlights for April include:
• Regional averages: Midwest (60.6); South (58.3); Northeast (55.0); West (52.4)
• Sector index breakdown: commercial/industrial (59.1); multi-family residential (56.9); institutional (56.7); mixed practice (55.0)
• Project inquiries index: 70.8
• Design contracts index: 61.7
