In-Depth Analysis of Industry Health and Economic Impact
The International Association of Exhibitions and Events® (IAEE) announced today the release of the 2025 CEIR Index Dashboard, a comprehensive analysis of the 2024 U.S. business-to-business (B2B) exhibition industry performance that includes economic and industry forecasts through 2027.
The CEIR Index Dashboard is produced by IAEE’s research division, the Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR), and powered by Oxford Economics’ Symphony BI engine – a robust interactive tool that measures year-over-year changes across four critical metrics dating back to 2000 up to present day: net square feet (NSF) of exhibit space sold, professional attendance, number of exhibiting companies and gross revenue. These metrics are analyzed for exhibitions of all sizes across 14 distinct industry sectors:
- Business Services (BZ)
- Consumer Goods and Services (CG)
- Discretionary Consumer Goods and Services (CS)
- Education (ED)
- Food (FD)
- Financial, Legal and Real Estate (FN)
- Government (GV)
- Building, Construction, Home and Repair (HM)
- Industrial/Heavy Machinery and Finished Business Inputs (ID)
- Communications and Information Technology (IT)
- Medical and Health Care (MD)
- Raw Materials and Science (RM)
- Sporting Goods, Travel and Entertainment (ST)
- Transportation (TX)
“The 2025 CEIR Index Dashboard was developed in collaboration with Oxford Economics’ Symphony BI resulting in a trusted, independent resource for business leaders and analysts aiming to assess the U.S. B2B exhibitions sector’s contribution to the wider economy,” said IAEE President and CEO Marsha Flanagan, M.Ed., CEM. “Backed by rigorous data analysis, historical benchmarks and forward-looking economic forecasts through 2027, this tool provides reliable intelligence on one of the most enduring and essential drivers of in-person commerce.”
Recent findings reflect that the exhibition industry demonstrated strong recovery momentum in Q4 2024, with the CEIR Total Index reaching 95.6, representing a 6.0% improvement from the previous year. This performance positioned the industry just 4.4% below pre-pandemic levels, marking significant progress compared to the 20.3% shortfall in Q4 2022 and 10.9% deficit in Q4 2023. Notably, 37.0% of completed events in 2024 surpassed their pre-pandemic performance levels, an 8.0 percentage point increase from 2023.
“Our outlook for the exhibition industry remains positive based on recent corporate earnings and observed bookings for future events,” said Adam Sacks, President of Tourism Economics. “However, tariffs pose significant risks to U.S. business performance as input costs rise and sentiment is unsettled by ongoing policy uncertainty. In addition, contentious policy and rhetoric from the administration are discouraging travel to the U.S., which will limit international participation in trade shows.”
Sacks will present a forecast update of the 2025 CEIR Index in a webinar on 14 May 2025 titled, “Where Is the B2B Exhibition Industry Now? What is the Outlook? How to Plan When the Business Environment Keeps Changing!” Click here for more details and to register.
About IAEE
Trusted since 1928, IAEE provides quality and value to its members through leadership, service, education and strong relationships. IAEE is the largest association of the exhibitions and events industry in the world, with a membership of show organizers, exhibitors and exhibition suppliers. Organizers of more than 20,000 exhibitions and buyer-seller events around the world are members of IAEE, and the organization advocates and promotes the awareness of face-to-face exhibitions and events as the primary medium for business development and growth. IAEE provides relevant, timely and innovative education to its members and the industry. IAEE recognizes its strategic partners: 4imprint, Convention News Television (CNTV), eShow, Freeman, GES | onPeak, Grit Productions and Expositions, IMEX, New Orleans & Company, New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, Risk Strategies Company | Buttine Insurance, Snöball and Swapcard. Visit www.iaee.com for more information.
About CEIR
The official research division of the International Association of Exhibitions and Events® (IAEE), 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 https://ceir.iaee.com/.
###
Media Inquiries:
Mary Tucker
Sr. Communications & Content Manager | IAEE
+1 (972) 687-9226
mtucker@iaee.com
