WASHINGTON, DC-After a three point rise in November, the Architecture Billings Index rose another two points in December, raising hopes that a turn around in the building industry is indeed happening. Put out by the American Institute of Architects, ABI is a leading economic indicator of construction activity, reflecting the approximate nine to twelve month lag time between architecture billings and construction spending.  

AIA reported the December ABI score was 54.2, up from a reading of 52 the previous month.  The new projects inquiry index was 62.6, up slightly from a mark of 61.4 in November.

“This is more promising news that the design and onstruction industry is continuing to move toward a recovery,” said AIA Chief Economist, Kermit Baker, in a prepared statement. It is too soon to celebrate with any certainty, he added, as December is typically unpredictable and therefore the most difficult month from which to interpret a trend.  “The coming quarter will give us a much better sense of the strength of the apparent upturn in design activity. ” 

Other highlights from the December report included a regional averages for the Northeast of 55.3; the South 54.8l; the Midwest 52.9 and the West, 48.4. Also,  multi-family residential posted a score of 60.1; commercial / industrial, of 52.7; institutional, 50.6; and mixed practice of 47.8. The project inquiries index was 62.6.