The overall CEIR index is forecast to grow at a relatively robust rate of 2.8%, a full percentage point higher than the 2014 rate. Over 2016 and 2017, CEIR expects the overall exhibition industry to continue to grow strongly, albeit at a slower pace.
DALLAS – The Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR) released the CEIR Index Report. The CEIR Index analyzes the 2014 exhibition industry and provides a future outlook for the next three years. In 2014, the Total Index increased by a moderate 1.8% for the year as a whole, one percentage point higher than in 2013 and just slightly below the 2.0% forecasted growth.
CEIR Index for the Overall Exhibition Industry
CEIR Index for the Overall Exhibition Industry, Percent Change
According to CEIR’s President & CEO, Brian Casey, CEM, “the best performing sectors in 2014 were the Financial, Legal and Real Estate (FN) and Building, Construction, Home and Repair (HM) sectors, which respectively gained 5.2% and 5.1%. Alternately, the weakest exhibition sector was Education (ED), where the index declined by 3.0%”.
CEIR Index by Industry, Percent Change, 2014
“We are optimistic for the performance of the industry overall this year. Economic and job growth should continue to drive expansion in exhibitions,” said CEIR Economist Allen Shaw, Ph.D., Chief Economist for Global Economic Consulting Associates, Inc.
The overall CEIR index is forecast to grow at a relatively robust rate of 2.8%, a full percentage point higher than the 2014 rate. Over 2016 and 2017, CEIR expects the overall exhibition industry to continue to grow strongly, albeit at a slower pace. The current projection shows growth at 2.4% in 2016 and 2.0% in 2017. Notably, this performance represents the fastest sustained growth in the history of the CEIR Index. By 2017, the Total index of the overall exhibition industry is expected to reach about 1.0% below its previous peak in 2007.
As an objective measure of the annual performance of the exhibition industry, 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 CEIR Index provides data on exhibition industry performance across 14 key industry sectors: Business Services; Consumer Goods; Discretionary Consumer Goods and Services; Education; Food; Financial, Legal and Real Estate; Government; Building, Construction, Home and Repair; Industrial/Heavy Machinery and Finished Business Outputs; Communications and Information Technology; Medical and Health Care; Raw Materials and Science; Sporting Goods, Travel and Entertainment; and Transportation.
After its initial release, a forecast update of the Index will be presented at the CEIR Predict conference on 16-17 September 2015 in Chicago, Illinois. Exhibition organizers who contributed data to the Index will receive the Index with the Introduction and Methodology, the Macro Economy and Overall Exhibition Industry, and the sector report in which their event(s) fall. Click here for information on how to purchase the complete CEIR Index Report.
“This year’s Predict will delve deeper than ever before into the relationship between the overall U.S. economy and how the exhibition industry plays into it,” said 2015 CEIR Chairman Britton Jones, President & CEO of Business Journals, Inc. “Attendees will learn about innovative approaches to adapting their business models, marketing and strategic plans to maximize the forecast for the next three years.”
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales.
She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
