Optimism reaches three month high

The latest RIBA Future Trends Workload Index shows that the overall index climbed to a three month high in September.

The figure of +17 is up from scores of +11 in August and +14 in July.

Practices in London were the most cautious about future workloads, with a balance figure of +7, compared to those working outside the capital where optimism in the North of England saw a figure of +29 posted and a +26 figure recorded for Midlands and East Anglia.

Private housing remains the sector architects are most positive about with a score of +18 in September, down marginally from the +19 recorded in August.

Confidence about the commercial market increased to +7 from +2 but optimism about public sector work stayed stick in the doldrums with a score of zero.

But RIBA executive director members Adrian Dobson warned: 鈥淲hilst workloads are steady, there is anecdotal evidence of a weakening in general business confidence that is beginning to become evident in the architectural market.鈥�

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