The exhibition industry grew for the 19th consecutive quarter in the first quarter of 2015 and achieved its largest year-on-year increase since the second quarter of 2007, according to the Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR), which yesterday released the first-quarter results of its periodic CEIR Index research report.
The report finds that overall exhibition-industry growth totaled 4.6 percent in the first quarter, up from 1.7 percent in the previous quarter and 2.2 percent in the first quarter of 2014.
"The performance in the first quarter was remarkable considering that the East Coast was frequently paralyzed under severe winter weather," said CEIR Economist Allen Shaw, Ph.D., chief economist for Global Economic Consulting Associates Inc.
Along with overall performance, the CEIR Index measures year-over-year performance in four industry metrics: attendance, which grew 3.7 percent; revenue, which grew 7.3 percent; net square feet of exhibit space sold, which grew 4.1 percent; and exhibitors, which grew 3.3 percent.
Concluded CEIR President and CEO Brian Casey, "We are very encouraged to see that the exhibition industry is continuing its upward climb. While industry growth has been moderate, the strong performance of Q1 is certainly offering positive indicators for the near future. After two challenging recessions, it's wonderful to see this kind of performance despite the impact of weather."
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