The AIA Architectural Billings Index (ABI) held some pleasant news for the month of September, showing an increase in design services and construction activity. The highest jump came from the project inquiries index, hopefully indicating that nervousness about the economy is slowly starting to abate.

Although the numbers are certainly not a sign that all is well across the industry, it is a tentative hope resting on fragile wings as we continue to watch what’s in store for the coming months.