Platt Retail Institute says sector heading in right direction

November 2, 2010 by Dave Haynes

Well, most of what I can offer to expand on this jargon-o-rama is okey-dokey and a mental image of me giving a thumbs-up sign, but here ya go …

The Platt Retail Institute projects moderate growth for the digital signage industry in the North American Digital Signage Index for Q3 2010, which was released today.

Some key findings include:

The Current DS Index increased from 120.63 in the first quarter of 2010 to 122.87 in the second quarter of 2010, a 1.86 percent increase. This is down from the 4.41 percent increase in the Current DS Index last quarter.

The Near-Term DS Index was 131.11, a 6.70 percent increase in sentiment versus the second quarter 2010. This is down from the 11.80 percent increase in the Near-Term DS Index last quarter.

The Current DS Index’s rate of growth is decelerating, closely tracking GDP and retail sales in the quarter. A key component of the Near-term DS Index, the overall level of anticipated business activity, is sharply lower.

PRI Director and Research Fellow Steven Keith Platt says, “We anticipate that the balance of the year will be generally weak, with some moderate improvement later in the year (sans retail, which will be in full holiday season mode). An improving economy and recovering advertising spending should bode well for an improving 2011.”

In words more attuned to mouth-breathers like me:

Growth up, but don’t expect much through end of year. Optimism up, but people not as perky as they were in the spring.

The Index is published quarterly and presents a single industry composite measure. In addition, activity in major industry sub-segments, such as software, Digital Out-of-Home networks, and ad agency/brand adoption rates is presented. The Index focuses on several areas including the current level of business activity and the view for the industry’s prospects. The results are presented in a detailed report.

It says Preset participated, but it musta been one of the other guys. I think, maybe, hmmm … anyway…

You can download the fella here …