Bottom Falls Out on Architecture Billings Index

The Architecture Billings Index (ABI) for March 2020 paints a "dire portrait of the state of architectural services demand," reports Jonathan Hilburg. In more detail:

Whereas the ABI in February 2020 painted a rosy picture of demand at 53.4 (50 is the baseline and represents no change, higher numbers represent an increase and lower numbers a decrease), March billings came in 33.3. This 20.1 swing is, according to the AIA, the largest downturn ever recorded in the ABI’s 25-year history. Even the 2001 recession only pushed demand down by 9.4 points, while the housing crash in 2008 decreased billings by 8.3 points.

According to Hilburg, the March report shouldn't come as a surprise after the special report the AIA released on April 10, but the April report should provide more insight about the depths of the economic downturn expected for the built environment fields.

The construction industry is already reporting large numbers of layoffs, as states like New York and Pennsylvania have halted construction projects. New York City recently ordered a halt to all public design work, and major architecture firms are furloughing employees.