Exhibition industry sees significant improvement in growth
The Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR) has realised the fourth-quarter results of its CEIR Index research report which have shown a significant improvement in the performance of the exhibition industry with a year-on-year increase of 3.0 percent compared to just 0.4 percent increase in the third quarter of 2013.
CEIR houses the world's largest collection of primary, exhibition-related research studies. They produce primary research studies that prove the effectiveness and efficiency of exhibitions as a marketing medium.
This promising result marks the fourteenth consecutive quarter of year-on-year growth and the highest increase since the first quarter of 2012 which showed growth of 3.2 percent. Additionally, the results found that the exhibition industry outperformed the macro economy as real GDP gained 2.7 percent year-on-year during the same period.
CEIR’s economist Allen Shaw, Ph.D., chief economist for Global Economic Consulting Associates, Inc. commented: “With the fourth quarter’s results and 14 consecutive quarters of growth, and our predictions closely matching outcomes, we are confident in the continued growth and progress of the industry. The exhibition industry has survived and emerged from the Great Recession and we are confident that the upswing will continue. Additionally, in line with our expectations as published in the 2012 CEIR Index Report, the Total Index increased by a modest 1.0 percent for 2013 for the year as a whole, just slightly below the 1.1 percent forecasted growth.”
The CEIR Index measures year-over-year changes in four key metrics to determine overall performance: Net Square Feet of Exhibit Space Sold; Professional Attendance; Number of Exhibiting Companies; and Gross Revenue. The strongest metric in the fourth quarter was Professional Attendance, which jumped 5.8 percent year-on-year, the biggest gain since the third quarter of 2007. Exhibitors and Real Revenues rose 3.0 percent and 3.6 percent, respectively. Net Square Feet was the only metric that suffered a year-on-year decline, dropping by 0.5 percent.
The full 2013 CEIR Index with three-year projection will be released in April.