Date: August 27, 2008
Contact: Marketing Research Association, Lawrence Brownell, 860-682-1000

Marketing Research Industry Leaders Pessimistic about the Current Health of the Industry
Marketing Research Association's Research Industry Index (RII)

(Glastonbury, CT): While key metrics of the Marketing Research Association’s Research Industry Index (RII) remain relatively flat for the second quarter of 2008, business executives forecast a gloomy outlook.

Agreement with such statements as ”our new business prospects look good,” ”he year is shaping up to be a better year for our business” and ”we have more new clients this year” have plummeted.

According to Larry Brownell, CEO of the MRA, there is also some indication that end clients are shopping their RFPs more than in the past. This is putting pressure on research companies' overall margins.

Data for the RII is gleaned from a quarterly study conducted among owners or senior level management of marketing research companies and End Users. The second quarter study was completed in late June, among 116 executives. The study addresses both qualitative and quantitative research. The RII is calculated based on the reported change in RFPs/Proposals, Projects/Booked Revenue and Staffing Levels.

Interviewing was conducted online, via a survey hosted by Authentic Response. Reporting was completed by Cooper Roberts Research.

Contact MRA for more information from the RII or to request to be copied on quarterly results.

The Marketing Research Association is the leading and largest association of the opinion and marketing research profession, a multi-billion dollar a year industry dedicated to providing valuable information to guide the decisions of companies that provide products and services to consumers and businesses. For more information, visit www.mra-net.org.