The new AIA/Deltek Architecture Billings Index (ABI) for the month of December has recorded a decline to 44.1 following two consecutive flat readings in October and November. For December, inquiries into new projects continued to increase at a relatively slow rate, while the value of newly signed design contracts was shown to have decreased overall.

"While there were signs that the design cycle was bottoming out in the fourth quarter, the December reading indicated a step back," Kermit Baker, the Chief Economist for the AIA, shares. "There remains considerable uncertainty as to the feasibility of many planned construction projects, so the wait-and-see period is extending into 20-25."

Key ABI highlights for December include:

• Regional averages: West (52.2); South (47.2); Midwest (46.4); Northeast (41.7)
• Sector index breakdown: multi-family residential (46.5); institutional (49.8); commercial/industrial (44.1); mixed practice (firms that do not have at least half of their billings in any one other category) (46.0)
• Project inquiries index: 51.6
• Design contracts index: 45.5

This is despite some of the encouraging economic signs that were detailed in the sixth installment of our State of AEC series. The AIA recently said it expects spending on new construction to 'slow dramatically' through 2026. (You can read more about that prediction here.)

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