February 2022, Volume 2
Monthly POS Reports
Budde Marketing, which provides monthly POS Index reports to ERA members, issued its latest summary, running from January 2019 through December 2021. View the new index. According to the latest report, December 2021 marked the tenth straight month of double-digit growth, or 29 percent ahead of December 2020. Budde Marketing expects a strong first quarter in 2022, as sales activity shows no sign of letting up. Beginning in 2022, Budde Marketing will be using new metrics, due to adding a number of manufacturers to its customer base in the past year. For details on Budde Marketing’s services, visit BuddeMarketing.com.
INDUSTRY NEWS
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the consumer price index has risen 7.5 percent over the past 12 months, up from 7.1 percent in December and the fastest year-over-year pace since February 1982. At the same time, core inflation (which excludes food and energy) increased 6 percent year-over-year in January, up from 5.5 percent in the prior release and the biggest increase since August 1982.
IC Insights predicts the roaring growth of semiconductors will continue in 2022 and 2023, but may hit a wall in 2024. “2024 is currently expected to be the next cyclical downturn in the market, and 2025-2026 will return to growth years,” Brian Matas, vice president of market research, told The Register.
A new survey shows 92 percent of large companies reported that they are achieving returns on data and artificial intelligence (AI) investments, compared to a 2019 survey where 7 out of 10 companies reported minimal or no value from AI technology investments. The same percentage from the 2022 survey – 92 percent – said they are increasing investments into data and AI. Read more.
ERA NEWS
The 2022 ERA Conference is one week away! If you’re attending, be on the lookout for an email this week where you can download the Conference app. View the schedule, register for breakout sessions – and be sure to join us for the Welcome Reception on Sunday evening. See you there!
The Winter 2022 Representor is now live! Read it now. Don’t miss the cover story, “Long-Term Growth Drivers Remain Despite Nagging Disruptions” by Dennis Reed, senior research analyst at the Edgewater Research Group. The issue also includes results from ERA’s 2021-2022 Industry Survey. See how your peers feel about how 2021 shaped up, expectations for revenue, growth and operating costs in 2022, and important factors affecting their business this year.
ERA will hold its next Water Cooler conversation on Tues., March 15 from 4 to 5 p.m. EST. The guest speaker will be Steve Turner, Founder & CEO, Turner Time Management, speaking on the topic of “Effective Time Management Skills for Busy People.” Access log-in details and past Water Cooler recordings.
FOR YOUR CALENDAR
Click here to browse the searchable ERA Industry Calendar and ERA Chapter Events listings!
