According to the fourth annual CEIR Index Report, the exhibition industry grew 4.8% in 2006 over 2005 levels, just slightly below the 5.8% gain posted by the industry in 2005 versus 2004, but marking the fourth consecutive year of industry growth. Additionally, the results for the industry surpassed overall U.S. economic growth of 3.4% in 2006.

Nearly 300 events contributed data for this report, and the results show that the exhibition industry is healthy, vibrant and growing. As an objective measure of the annual performance of the exhibition industry, the CEIR Index measures year-over-year changes in four key metrics to determine overall performance: Net Square Feet; Attendees; Exhibitors; and Revenue. Over the course of the period covered by this report (2000-2006), all four exhibition industry metrics rose on a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) basis: Net Square Feet (+3.6%); Revenue (+2.6%); Attendees (+1.6%); and Exhibitors (+1.5%). In 2006, Revenue increased 9.7%, followed by 4.6%, 3.8% and 1.3% gains in Attendees, Net Square Feet and Exhibitors, respectively.

The CEIR Index provides exhibition industry performance across 11 key industry sectors: Professional Business Services; Consumer and Retail Trade; Sports and Entertainment; Food; Government; Building and Construction; Industrial and Manufacturing; Communications and Information Technology; Medical and Health Care; Raw Materials and Science; and Transportation.

Several market sectors drove growth for the industry from 2000 to 2006, including Building and Construction (+5.4% CAGR); Sports and Entertainment (+5.3% CAGR); Transportation (+4.8% CAGR); and Medical and Health Care (+4.0% CAGR). From 2005 to 2006, exhibition industry growth was led by Professional Business Services (+11.1%); Raw Materials and Science (+10%); Transportation (+9.4%); Building and Construction (+9.2%); and Food (+7.4%).

Total growth rates in the other industry sectors from 2005 to 2006 were: Building and Construction (+9.2%); Food (+7.4%); Communications and Information Technology (+3.4%); Medical and Health Care (+3.0%); Industrial and Manufacturing (+3.0%); Sports and Entertainment (+2.9%); Government (+1.0%); and Consumer and Retail Trade (+0.1%). With a 7.4% gain in 2006, the Food sector displayed the greatest turnaround among sectors, as it posted a 10.9% decline in 2005 versus 2004 levels.