New report: Rosy outlook for exhibit industry
The overall exhibition industry gained 2.3% during the first half of 2012, according to the Center for Exhibition Industry Research, Dallas.
Compared to the first six months of 2011, the growth of the CEIR Index has steadied to 2.3%, in line with Gross Domestic Product at the same rate of growth. Based on this data and knowing that exhibitions reflect the sectors and industries they support, it is likely that the exhibition industry will continue to see positive growth in the near term, the report's author noted. Quarter-to-quarter comparison results were slightly lower than the first quarter of 2012 but increased slightly over the same period in 2011.
According to the 2011 CEIR Index, released in April, the overall exhibition industry had hit bottom in 2009, but should continue to see a modest recovery during the next three years in all metrics across most sectors. Attendance at exhibitions is a leading factor in the economic recovery and has now shown consistent growth for the past eight quarters.
All parallel indicators of recovery of net square feet, exhibitors, attendees and real revenues showed increases. Net square feet of exhibit space sold showed an increase of 1.1 percent, exhibitors increased by 1 percent, attendees increased by 4.3 percent and real revenues increased by 1.5 percent. Details: www.ceir.org.
