Framing Contractors NAICS 238130

Jul 7, 2026 - Architectural Billings Remain Weak

• Demand for building design services declined in May 2026 over the prior month, as architectural billings remain soft, according to a June report by the American Institute of Architects (AIA). The AIA’s Architecture Billing Index (ABI) fell to 44.5 in May from April's reading of 48.3. Any reading of 50 or more indicates growth in architectural billings. The score for new project inquiries fell to 49.4 in May, down from 57.7 in April, and the index for the value of new design contracts decreased from 48.0 to 45.0. The AIA’s Chief Economist, Richard Branch said, "The uncertainty created by the Iran conflict, and substantially higher energy costs, weighed on architect billings in May. Higher interest rates, rapidly rising material costs, and continued labor shortages all contributed to softer demand."
• New single-family home sales fell 7.3% month-over-month and were down 6.8% year-over-year in May 2026, according to the US Census Bureau. May’s total new home sales reached 580,000 units. Increased inflation, high mortgage rates, and economic uncertainty are keeping many would-be buyers on the sidelines, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). As new home sales soften further, stockpiles of completed homes continue to stack up. Inventories of unsold new homes reached 496,000 units in May, up 2.3% compared to April, but down 1.4% from May 2025. The months' supply of new homes was 10.3 months in May. The US housing market is generally considered balanced with five to six months of inventory.

• Fitch Ratings lowered its 2026 outlooks for US homebuilding and North American building products to deteriorating, citing weak affordability, mortgage rates near 6.5%, soft consumer sentiment, and slower housing turnover. Fitch expects new home sales to fall 2.5% in 2026, single-family starts to decline 4.5%, and remodeling demand to remain constrained, especially for big-ticket discretionary projects. The slowdown could reduce demand for new construction, renovations, and resale-driven upgrades in the hardware, plumbing, and HVAC equipment markets. However, repair, maintenance, and nondiscretionary categories, including plumbing repair, roofing repair, coatings, HVAC replacement parts, and essential equipment, should prove more resilient. Distributors may face lower volumes, margin pressure from inflation, and cautious customer spending, partly offset by nonresidential activity in data centers and power infrastructure.
• Home builders are cutting costs by using cheaper materials, simplifying designs, and reducing features to make homes more affordable amid high prices, mortgage rates, and economic uncertainty, according to The Wall Street Journal. Builders are installing particle-board cabinets, thinner countertops, fewer windows, and lower-end appliances, while shrinking home sizes and standardizing layouts. Some are also offering mortgage-rate buydowns to attract buyers, but homes still often sell for more than $400,000. Buyers face trade-offs between affordability and quality, with some reporting missing or lower-quality finishes. Industry analysts say these changes are spreading as builders prioritize efficiency and profit margins. While companies argue that homes remain durable and accessible to first-time buyers, critics say newer houses feel less customized and lower in quality than older homes.