Pro-AV Business Index
October predicts slight year end dip
Highlights
- The AV Sales Index (AVI-S) was 56.3 in October, slightly down from September. Although not above 60 as in previous periods, this moderate growth suggests consistent market demand with potential for stabilization.
Tariffs, political instability, and inflation are key concerns affecting the AV industry. These factors contribute to uncertainty in business investments and lead to increased equipment and project costs, influencing client decisions and project scopes. Despite current challenges, some companies are strategically investing in talent and technology to prepare for expected market improvements and busy periods, such as end-of-year events and ongoing digital transformation demands..
The AV Employment Index (AVI-E) increased to 56.9, indicating a stronger hiring environment. This aligns with the general positive trend in employment, though at a cautious pace given broader market uncertainty. While the BLS has gone dark with the shutdown in Washington, other reports outside the government data suggest the labor market just plodded along in September- October.
International Outlook
The non-US preliminary October sale index dropped one point to 56.9, while the employment index remained steady at 57. The index reached its highest point at 61.5 in April, indicating strong market activity and investment followed by a gradual cooling off due to economic uncertainties. The preliminary international sales index dropped from 59.1 to 57.7. While the International employment index dropped 2.8 points to 51.6..
1Due to the small sample, the North American and International indexes are based on a 3-month moving average. The October 2025 index is preliminary, based on the average of Octobe rand September 2025 and will be final with November 2025 data in the next report.
1AVIXA®, the Audiovisual and Integrated Experience Association, has published the monthly Pro AV Business Index since September 2016, gauging sales and employment indicators for the pro AV industry. The index is calculated from a monthly survey that tracks trends. Two diffusion indexes are created using the survey: the AV Sales Index (AVI-S) and AV Employment Index (AVI-E). The diffusion indexes are calculated based on the positive response frequency from those who indicated their business had a 5% or more increase in billings/sales from the prior month plus half of the neutral response. An index of 50 indicates firms saw no increase or decline in business activity; more than 50 indicates an increase, while less than 50 indicates a decrease.
Economic conditions with pending tariff adjustments and financing concerns by customers with project pending contracting had slowed project commitments and procurement for two business quarters. Clients have finally decided to commit with procurement approvals
AV integrtor, Asia Pacific
Summer is always our slowest season so fall-winter always is busier for us, Themed attractions we work on tend to be closed over the winter months so this is when we do a lot of our installs.
AV Provider, North America
Education is slow this time of year. We are prepping our work and storage space in anticipation of the large projects we'll have in the Summer of ‘26.
End user, North America
Methodology
The survey behind the AVIXA Pro AV Business Index was fielded to 2,000 members of the AVIXA Insights Community between October 27, 2025 and November 4, 2025. A total of 287 AV professionals completed the survey. Only respondents who are service providers and said they were “moderately” to “extremely” familiar with their company’s business conditions were factored in index calculations. The AV Sales and AV Employment Indexes are computed as diffusion indexes. The monthly score is calculated as the percentage of firms reporting a significant increase plus half the percentage of firms reporting no change. Comparisons are always made to the previous month. Diffusion indexes, typically centered at a score of 50, are used frequently to measure change in economic activity. If an equal share of firms reports an increase as reports a decrease, the score for that month will be 50. A score higher than 50 indicates that firms, in the aggregate, are reporting an increase in activity that month compared to the previous month. In contrast, a score lower than 50 is a decrease in activity.
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