The Big Picture
By Staff -- Tradeshow Week, 2/9/2004
Spending and RevenueMeeting planners and suppliers expect a 4-percent increase in spending and revenue this year, according to FutureWatch 2004, a comparative annual outlook from Meeting Professionals Intl. and American Express. Respondents also anticipate a 3-percent increase in industry employment.
Consumer Price IndexThe index decreased 0.1 percent in December, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. The December level was 1.9 percent higher than in December 2002.
Labor StatisticsAverage real weekly earnings decreased by 0.6 percent from November to December, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. A 0.2-percent increase in average hourly earnings was more than offset by a 0.6-percent decline in average weekly hours.
