a:25:{s:9:"weblog_id";s:1:"4";s:8:"entry_id";s:0:"";s:6:"sticky";s:0:"";s:14:"allow_comments";s:1:"n";s:16:"allow_trackbacks";s:1:"n";s:10:"entry_date";s:19:"2008-12-25 06:03 AM";s:15:"expiration_date";s:0:"";s:23:"comment_expiration_date";s:0:"";s:8:"category";a:1:{i:0;s:1:"4";}s:9:"author_id";s:1:"2";s:6:"status";s:4:"open";s:14:"trackback_urls";s:0:"";s:18:"versioning_enabled";s:1:"y";s:5:"title";s:56:"Midwest Takes Biggest HIt in Architectural Billings Drop";s:9:"url_title";s:56:"midwest_takes_biggest_hit_in_architectural_billings_drop";s:6:"submit";s:6:"Submit";s:11:"field_id_26";s:56:"Midwest Takes Biggest HIt in Architectural Billings Drop";s:11:"field_ft_26";s:4:"none";s:11:"field_id_31";s:0:"";s:11:"field_id_44";s:207:"The Midwest took the most severe hit when the AIA Architectural Billings Index (ABI) sunk to 34.7 in November, the lowest score in its 13-year history. In comparison, the score was 54.8 just one year prior. ";s:11:"field_ft_44";s:4:"none";s:11:"field_id_28";s:33:"AIA, architectural billings, drop";s:11:"field_ft_28";s:4:"none";s:11:"field_id_29";s:1419:"<p>The Midwest took the most severe hit when the AIA Architectural Billings Index (ABI) sunk to 34.7 in November, the
lowest score in its 13-year history. In comparison, the score was 54.8
just one year prior.</p>
<p><img alt=\"Architectural Billlings\" class=\"image-left\" height=\"305\" src=\"/images/uploads/arch-billings.jpg\" style=\"float: left;\" width=\"477\" />The inquiries score also hit a record low in November: 38.3,  down from 51 in September.</p>
<p>The American Institute of Architects (AIA) compiles the index based
on surveys sent to mostly commercial architects. The index has fallen
below 50 for 10 straight months (a number below 50 indicates a decrease
in billings).</p>
<p>The commercial sector has taken a steep dive, hitting 26.7 in
November. Multi-family residential was also down, from October&rsquo;s 32.5
to 30. &ldquo;What&rsquo;s just as troubling is that the institutional
sector&mdash;schools, hospitals, and public buildings&mdash;is also beginning to
react to tighter credit conditions and a weakening economy,&rdquo; says
Kermit Baker, the AIA&rsquo;s chief economist. The institutional score dipped
to 40.8 in November, down from 41.3 in October, and 44.4 in September.&nbsp;</p>
<p>In terms of regions, all had record-low scores. The Midwest had the
lowest: 31.4. The West dipped to 33.5; the South, 36.8; and the
Northeast, 39.5.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h4>Graph courtesy of AIA</h4>";s:10:"category_0";s:1:"4";}