Business conditions at architecture firms declined again in September, the AIA/Deltek Architecture Billings Index (ABI) reports. The score of 44.8 for September is the lowest score reported since December 2020 during the height of the pandemic. Any score below 50.0 indicates decreasing business conditions, and this score indicates a significant increase in firms reporting declining billings. “The Midwestern states, including Iowa, continue to see a decline in billings, the sharpest across the U.S. since the fourth quarter of 2021 during the pandemic,” Jessica Reinert, AIA Iowa executive director, said in a prepared statement. “Good news for Iowa business is that the Midwest is seeing the least decline, this is typical based on historical data the Midwest is somewhat insulated from large shifts in the market.” For more detailed information, click here.

Related article: Interest rates, labor market among concerns of local architects