As part of our participation in NAHB’s Leading Suppliers Council, AIBD attended a 2026 International Builders’ Show briefing by Dr. Robert Dietz, Chief Economist for the National Association of Home Builders.

In that session, Dr. Dietz presented NAHB’s latest economic and housing market data, along with their forecast for the next several years.

The short version is this:

We are in a slower, more expensive, more complicated housing cycle, but one that still clearly needs what residential designers do—just not always in the same places or in the same products as before.

Upon returning from the show, our immediate goal is to inform you of this important information.

The A-Team has prepared a blog post titled "Big picture: economy and housing, what it means for design firms," featuring insights from Dr.Dietz's 36-slides of data.

The observations and recommendations in this report are drawn from that presentation and are specifically intended for residential building design firms.

It explores how shifting interest rates, housing shortages, and the rise of remodeling are creating new opportunities for residential design firms to act as trusted advisors for their clients.

It's a valuable read for anyone looking to navigate the current housing cycle and use economic data to strengthen their business case.

Dive into the full report to discover how these findings translate into actionable strategies for AIBD members and download Dr. Dietz's exclusive 36-slide presentation, available only to Leading Supplier Council members.

Have a great weekend!

The A-Team