Trade Show Industry Up 2.6% in Q1 2016

Posted by Cat Virca in Tips, Trends

The Center for Exhibition Industry Research reports that the trade show industry continues its growth streak with a 2.6 percent increase compared to Q1 of last year. The results mark the 23^rd consecutive quarter of year-on-year growth. Rachel Wimberly, President and Editor-in-Chief of Trade Show News Network, explains how the results remain positive despite a sluggish macro economy.

The growth was driven by strong industry sectors such as Building, Construction, Food, Transportation and Government. This year also saw an overall increase in trade show industry revenues. Continuous year-on-year growth in these industries offsets the weakness in underperforming sectors such as Heavy Machinery, Raw Materials, and Science.

All four exhibition metrics in Q4 of 2015 posted year-on-year gains. In 2015, the strongest metric was Real Revenues, or nominal revenues adjusted for inflation, which rose 5.4 percent. Following that, Net Square Feet and Exhibitors increased by 3.0 percent and 1.9 percent respectively.

According to Allen Shaw, CEIR Economist and Chief Economist for Global Economic Consulting Associates, Inc., “The exhibition industry is off to a good start in 2016.” Shaw adds, “As the economy rebounds from the weak first quarter, the exhibition industry will gain further ground.”

Read the full article.