Sept. 12, 2014: Construction Activity Index Reaches Highest Mark Since 2007
All Construction Sectors and Geographic Regions Showing Robust Demand
WASHINGTON — The last three months have shown steadily increasing demand for design services and the Architecture Billings Index (ABI) is now at its highest level since 2007, announced the American Institute of Architects (AIA). A leading economic indicator of construction activity, the July ABI score was 55.8, up strongly from 53.5 in June, reported the AIA. This score reflects an increase in design activity (any score above 50 indicates an increase in billings). The new projects inquiry index remained high at 66, following a very robust mark of 66.4 the previous month.
The AIA also said it has added a new indicator measuring the trends in new design contracts at architecture firms that can provide a strong signal of the direction of future architecture billings. The score for design contracts in July was 54.9.