Community Home

DALLAS, 17 September 2019 – Today, the Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR) released results at the CEIR Predict Conference from a brief survey fielded this August, assessing U.S. trade show executive perceptions about U.S. trade tariff policies and whether these policies have had an impact on U.S.-based trade shows that have taken place in 2018 through July 2019.

Though China is the biggest target for trade tariffs, so are other U.S. trade partners including the European Union, Canada, Mexico, and other Asian countries. CEIR CEO Cathy Breden, CMP, CAE noted, “Why is this issue of concern to our industry? U.S. trade shows are a gateway to doing business in our country.”

Government data tracking economic activity is slow to precisely quantify the impact such policies are having on the economy and trade itself. In the absence of this information, CEIR launched a short survey to gauge what impact, if any, these trade tariffs are having on U.S.-based trade shows.

The results show tariffs are having an impact for over half of surveyed organizers that have produced U.S. shows in 2018 through July of this year. Where impacts have been sustained, they are largely negative. In 2018, U.S. business-to-business (B2B) trade shows contributed $97 billion to U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) from direct and indirect spending.

CEIR Vice President of Research Nancy Drapeau, PRC said, “Very careful attention was paid to designing a survey that objectively gauged trade show executive sentiment about the impact of these trade tariffs on the U.S. trade show industry. And as well, to determine if impacts have been felt at U.S. trade shows that have taken place during the period that the trade war has been in play – in 2018 through July 2019.

Unfortunately, as shown below, 56% of executives that have held a U.S.-based B2B trade show in 2018 through July 2019 have encountered impacts, more so on the exhibitor side, 49%, with 36% reporting impact on attendee audiences. And where there has been impact it is largely negatively. Overall, on average, these organizers have sustained a gross revenue loss of 7.7%.”

Methodology
In August 2019, IAEE and SISO members and Trade Show Executive readers who are executives that direct or manage U.S. based trade shows, were invited to participate in this study. A total of 129 executives replied providing results that are statistically valid at the 95% confidence level with a margin of error of plus or minus 8.6%. The response rate is estimated to be 3 percent. This sample includes an even mix of executives from association run and independently run trade shows.

About CEIR
The Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR) serves to advance the growth, awareness and value of exhibitions and other face-to-face marketing events by producing and delivering knowledge-based research tools that enable stakeholder organizations to enhance their ability to meet current and emerging customer needs, improve their business performance and strengthen their competitive position. For additional information, visit www.ceir.org.

DALLAS, 9 September 2019 – The Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR) reports that growth of the exhibition industry continued during the second quarter of 2019. The CEIR Total Index, a measure of exhibition industry performance, posted a respectable year-over-year gain of 1.6% (see Figure 1) even though it under-performed the overall economy as reflected in the inflation-adjusted GDP (see Figure 2).

Figure 1: Quarterly CEIR Total Index for the Overall Exhibition Industry, Year-over-Year Growth, 2011Q1-2019Q2

Figure 2: Quarterly CEIR Total Index for the Overall Exhibition Industry vs. Quarterly Real GDP, Year-over-Year Growth, 2008Q1-2019Q2

“In line with the macroeconomy, the growth of the exhibition industry has continued but at a slower pace,” said CEIR Economist Allen Shaw, Ph.D., Chief Economist for Global Economic Consulting Associates, Inc.

Discretionary Consumer Goods and Services; Industrial/Heavy Machinery and Finished Business Inputs; and Communications and Information Technology all registered robust year-over-year gains. In contrast, Financial, Legal, and Real Estate; Consumer Goods and Retail Trade and Sporting Goods, Travel, and Amusement posted year-over-year declines.

All exhibition metrics in the second quarter posted positive year-over-year gains except exhibitors (Figures 3 and 4). Real revenues (nominal revenues adjusted for inflation) and attendees posted the largest increase of 3.8% and 3.7%, respectively. Net square feet (NSF) rose a modest 0.2% and exhibitors dropped 1.3%.

Figure 3: Quarterly CEIR Metrics for the Overall Exhibition Industry, Year-over-Year Growth, 2019Q2

Figure 4: Quarterly CEIR Metrics for the Overall Exhibition Industry, Year-over-Year Growth, 2009-2019Q2

“The growth during the second quarter indicates that the exhibition industry is on track to register a ninth consecutive year of growth, albeit slowing growth as was forecasted by our economist in the 2019 CEIR Index Report,” said CEIR CEO Cathy Breden, CMP, CAE.

CEIR’s annual conference, Predict, taking place at the MGM National Harbor on 16-17 September will address the most current forecast and how it is affecting the 14 industry sectors through a highly anticipated session with Dr. Lindsey Piegza, Chief Economist, Stifel Fixed Income; Dennis Slater, President, Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM); Jerry Howard, CEO, National Association of Home Builders; moderated by Vincent Polito, Principal, mdg.

In addition to compiling the quarterly exhibition index, CEIR also offers analytical tools, an annual in-depth report and an outlook conference. The CEIR Event Performance Analyzer provides exhibition organizers with a tool to measure how an event is performing in its sector, as well as in the overall industry. The CEIR Index Report provides an economic overview of the exhibition industry, including key indicators for growth. Together, these resources provide insights for developing business strategies and goals. The 2019 CEIR Index Report includes a three-year forecast for the business-to-business exhibitions and events industry.

About CEIR
The Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR) serves to advance the growth, awareness and value of exhibitions and other face-to-face marketing events by producing and delivering knowledge-based research tools that enable stakeholder organizations to enhance their ability to meet current and emerging customer needs, improve their business performance and strengthen their competitive position. For additional information, visit www.ceir.org.