Index stuck in successive months of negative territory for first time since 2012

Architects’ pessimism worsened in October after the latest Future Trends survey remained in negative territory for the second month running.

It is the first time the workload index has been stuck in the red for two successive months since 2012 with the score in October falling six points to -10.

polling station

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Confidence in Wales and the West of England collapsed from 0 to -25 with firms in London and the South again posting negative scores.

And the RIBA’s executive director professional services, Adrian Dobson, warned the situation wouldn’t improve this month either.

“It would be reasonable to expect continued concern in November’s figures, following the calling of the general election,” he added.

All the survey’s four profiled sectors, including private housing and commercial, recorded negative scores.