While the ABI's pace of decline eased slightly this month, a slowdown in activity is still expected after last quarter's negative numbers.

Both the billing index and design contracts continued to slide, while inquiries into new projects rose modestly in November, indicating firms seeing less current and new work but remaining positive.

While this month's ABI indicates a modest increase, the nationwide index foretells an eventual deceleration in the coming months.

Although the pace of new architectural billings continued to slow, the AIA reported increased demand for design services in May.

The latest architectural billings indicate that renovations on existing buildings are outpacing new construction for the first time in decades.