Last week, CEIR released its sixth Index – offering an insightful look into the rocky year that was 2008 and how the economic downturn affected the exhibition industry.
President and CEO Doug Ducate presented the overall findings of the new Index at the Society of Independent Show Organizers’ (SISO) 2009 CEO Summit.
CEIR collects data submitted by show organizers across the entire exhibition industry throughout the year in four metrics – total net square feet, exhibitors, attendees and revenue – and tracks the year over year changes in these components to determine the performance of the industry as a whole.
Each year, CEIR endeavors to increase the number of data submissions it receives – this year the final count was 418; however, only around 300 of those were complete and usable for the project. As a major incentive for organizers, each person that submitted their 2008 event data received a free copy of the new publication this week. Even with a limited 300 shows, the Index reveals a wealth of knowledge about the recent performance of exhibitions – and predictions for the future.
Major highlights of the Index will be revealed in the next couple of weeks here on the CEIR blog, including:
In 2008, the exhibition industry experienced its first decline since 2002, decreasing 3.1% versus 2007.
The 2008 quarterly results for the overall exhibition industry reflected the pattern of the GDP, as the industry grew 0.5% in the first quarter of the year, was flat in the second quarter, and then declined in the third and fourth quarters at rates of 6% and 5.7% respectively. All four key industry metrics declined in the third and fourth quarters of 2008, as compared to 2007.
While four sectors reported overall exhibition growth [in 2008] only the IT and RM sectors saw year-over-year growth across all four key industry metrics.
Imagine what CEIR could offer the industry with hundreds more events reporting? Help strengthen the Index in 2010 and submit you event’s 2009 data online – it’s quick and easy.
The new Index is available to purchase online today at www.ceir.org.
