• by Jack Loechner , Staff Writer @mp_research, December 24, 2010

The Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR) announced that data collected for the annual CEIR Index report for the third quarter of 2010 indicates positive growth in all metrics for the first time since the first quarter of 2008. The now broken string of nine consecutive quarters of negative growth was an industry record surpassing the seven consecutive quarters between 2001 and 2003.

The Index reported that the leading indicator to look for in the exhibition industry recovery is an increase in professional attendance, which began showing improvement in the second quarter and continues to lead improvement with 6.6% growth over the same period in 2009. Both net square feet of exhibit space sold and number of exhibiting companies show 5.2% growth over the same period in 2009. Projected revenue also showed positive growth of 5.6% over the same period in 2009.

CEIR President and CEO Doug Ducate, says, "After a record setting nine consecutive quarters of negative quarter over quarter performance, the third quarter of the 2010 CEIR Index reports all four metrics show improvement over the third quarter of 2009... the third quarter is historically the weakest of the four and has had the greatest decline. The test will be to see if this positive trend continues... "

CEIR Index Q3 Comparison, 2010 vs. 2009
	Overall	NSF	Exhibitors	Attendees	Projected Revenue
Index 2010 (Rounded)	89	84	79	103	89
% Change 2010 vs. 2009	5.5%	5.2%	5.2%	6.6%	5.6%
Source: CEIR Index, November 2010

The fourth quarter of 2010 and first quarter of 2011 will be an indicator of a true recovery for the exhibition industry. Retail sales over the holiday shopping season will be an indicator of continuing economic recovery, notes the report.

To read the release, and for more information on how to acquire the CEIR Index, please visit here.