Billings for design work declined in January, reflecting the blahs of the overall economy. “January was a rocky month throughout the economy, with falling oil prices, international economic concerns, and with steep declines in stock market valuations in the U.S. and elsewhere. Some of the fallout of this uncertainty may have affected progress on design projects,” said Jessica Reinert, executive director of the Iowa chapter of the American Institute of Architects, which reported that its index of billings dropped to 49.6 last month. A reading above 50 indicates an increase in billings. The index indicates construction spending in the following nine months to one year. Designers in the Midwest trailed those in other regions of the country with a reading of 48.9. The new projects inquiry index was 55.3, down from a reading of 60.2 the previous month. On the positive side, “fundamentals in the nonresidential design and construction market are predicted to stay steady,” Reinert said in a release.