Given Trump’s tariffs in combination with the already slowing economy, it’s no surprise the AIA’s Architecture Billing Index reported a drop in the month of March. February’s score of 45.5 decreased to 44.1 in March—any score below 50 indicates a decline in billings from the previous month. In its report, the AIA shared that, of the last 30 months, 27 have reported declining billings. During this time, architects have relied on project backlogs. For awhile, new project inquiries were on the rise. However, March marks the second month in a row in which project inquiries have dropped. Firms have reported a decrease in newly signed design contracts for 13 consecutive months. Recognizing this, AIA chief economist Kermit Baker was rather upfront about how the turbulent economic situation is affecting architecture practices. “Clients are increasingly cautious about starting projects due to uncertainty over future trends in interest rates and building materials costs, as well as the potential for an economic slowdown,” he said. “Unfortunately, this softness in firm billings is likely to continue as indicators of future work remain weak, however, the average project backlog at firms stands at a reasonably healthy 6.5 months, offering a bit of a buffer if future project work continues to remain soft.” In addition to a national average, the AIA shared regional averages. Continuing a trend, the Northeast reported the lowest, with a bleak score of 40.5. All regions showed a decline in billings, and while the South’s 48.3 was the highest reported, it indicates billings are happening at a slowing rate. Firms specializing in institutional projects saw less of a decline than other building sectors. As is typical, multifamily residential reported a low score of 40.3. Looking ahead, the industry will likely tread lightly, wading through strained developers and rising material costs as it continues on.