Take February's AV index short 5- minute survey. https://avip.avixa.org/surveys/17f80fa3-7e8b-4585-899a-b98d52672f4b/start/a/7e74a0a3-2ccb-45f4-82f6-965e2bc93f8b

January Starts Out Strong

• The AV Sales Index (AVI-S) for January registered 55.6, easing from December’s 56.6 and reflecting a typical start-of-year moderation in AV demand. The pullback is consistent with seasonal patterns, as education, corporate, and live events markets pause amid calendar resets, budget finalization, and slower project starts. Despite the slight month-to-month softening, the index remains solidly in expansion territory, signaling continued growth in overall AV activity. Importantly, January’s AVI-S stands above year ago levels (51.5), reinforcing that underlying demand conditions entering 2026 are stronger than in early 2025.
• January’s index reflects a combination of typical seasonal effects and broader macroeconomic conditions, including stable but still restrictive interest rates, cautious business investment, and soft nonresidential construction activity early in the year. Education, corporate, and live events markets all experienced slower starts as budgets reset, project timelines extended, and cost pressures persisted.

• The January AV Employment Index (AVI-E) dropped by 1 point to 54.4. January 2026 the US labor market conditions appear stable but soft, with low layoffs and subdued hiring momentum.