CEIR Index Indicates Trade Show Industry Up 2 Percent for 2017
April 13, 2018Trade Show News Network announced that the Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR) has released its 2018 CEIR Index Report, which analyzes the 2017 exhibition industry and provides an economic and exhibition industry outlook for the next three years. The growth of the B2B exhibition industry accelerated along with the macro economy in 2017.
The CEIR Total Index, a measure of overall exhibition industry performance, increased by a moderate 2 percent, 1 percentage point higher than in 2016. All four metrics rose in 2017, with real revenues leading at 2.9 percent above 2016. Attendees and net square footage rose 2.1 percent and 2 percent, respectively, whereas exhibitors gained 1.1 percent.
“Optimism in the business environment and robust economic and job growth should continue to drive exhibitions,” explained CEIR Economist Allen Shaw, Ph.D., chief economist for Global Economic Consulting Associates. He added, “The exhibition industry is expected to finally enter into an expansion phase in 2018 with the Total Index surpassing its previous peak.” As an objective measure of the exhibition industry’s annual performance, the CEIR Index measures year-over-year changes in four key metrics to determine overall performance, including net square feet (NSF) of exhibit space sold, professional attendance, number of exhibiting companies and gross revenue.