Glass and Glazing Contractors NAICS 238150

Mar 7, 2026 - Architectural Billings Decline

• Demand for building design services declined in January from the prior month, according to a February report by the American Institute of Architects (AIA). The AIA’s Architecture Billing Index (ABI) fell to 43.8 compared to December's reading of 47.1. Any reading of 50 or more indicates growth in architectural billings. The score for new project inquiries fell to 49.3 in January from 52.9 in December, and the new design contracts index dropped to 42.7 from 47.5. January marked the first month since April 2025 that new project inquiries declined, as architecture clients remain cautious and new projects tended to be smaller in scale. All architectural specializations continue to face challenges, but multifamily has seen a slower decline than other segments of the industry.
• Slight gains in home improvements and single-family homebuilding helped boost private residential construction spending by 1.5% in December 2025, according to analysis of Census Bureau data by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). However, total residential spending declined by 1.3% year over year, as the housing industry continues to face significant affordability challenges. Single-family construction spending increased 1.6% in December from November but was down 3.6% from December 2024. Multifamily construction spending rose 0.1% in December, marking the seventh consecutive month of softening gains. December's multifamily spending rose 2.9% year over year. Single-family spending has been on a downward trend since early 2024, pressured by elevated interest rates and concerns about the impact of US trade policy on materials costs. Multifamily construction spending peaked in mid-2023 and has since flattened.

• Home remodeling spending growth is expected to moderate in 2026, according to the Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity (LIRA) report released in January by the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard. Homeowner spending on improvements and repairs is expected to increase 2.9% to $527 billion in the first quarter of 2026, compared to Q1 2025. In the second quarter of 2026, remodeling spending will trend downward to $518 billion but still be up 2.1% from Q2 2025. Spending will then moderate further to $517 billion in Q3 2026, up 2% from Q3 2025. In the fourth quarter of 2026, year-over-year spending is forecast to rise 1.6% to $522 billion. While solid remodeling permitting activity and gradually improving single-family home sales will support remodeling activity, potential headwinds include continued weakness of housing starts and elevated interest rates. Residential remodeling spending is a demand driver for glass and glazing contractors.
• US construction spending on windows and doors is expected to post solid annual growth in 2026, according to FMI's most recent Building Products Market Overview report. In 2026, spending on residential doors and windows is forecast to increase by 2% over 2025 and nonresidential door and window spending is projected to grow by 2.9% over the same period. Demand for doors and windows used in new construction is being driven by updates to energy efficiency codes for both residential and nonresidential markets. The aging of the US housing supply is expected to boost demand in the residential market. Longer term, US door and window spending is forecast to have a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.2% between 2025 and 2029. However, like other subcontracting industries, window and door installers face a skilled labor gap as more experienced workers retire.