Exhibition industry numbers strong in 1Q 2012
The exhibition industry will experience continued growth for 2012, based on first quarter survey results reported this week by the Center for Exhibition Industry Research, Dallas.
Data collected for the first quarter CEIR Index reveals that the Total Index increased by 2.7 percent compared to the same period in 2011. The exhibition industry continued to outperform real GDP which increased at a rate of 2 percent from a year ago. In tandem with the Overall, all four key metrics showed positive results on a year-on-year basis with Attendance as the leading, key driver for the period.
Attendance in the first quarter continues to lead improvement with 4.6 percent growth, compared to 3.5 percent in the fourth quarter in 2011. Also, the industry has experienced seven consecutive quarters of growth. The year-on-year growth of Attendees accelerated to 4.6 percent compared to 3.5 percent in the fourth quarter. Net Square Feet followed with an increase of 3.4 percent but was less than the growth of the fourth quarter which reported 4.8 percent. Both Exhibitors and Real Revenues each increased slightly by 1.5 percent during the first quarter following a 2.1 percent and 5.2 percent growth respectively in the preceding quarter.
Details: CEIR executive director Cathy Breden, CAE, CMP, cbreden@ceir.org.
