International consumer goods fair Tendence has reported 20% decline in the number of visitors to the show.
The post-show report for the Frankfurt exhibition, which incorporates home, garden, gifts and decorating, showed that while German visitor numbers remained "comparatively stable" with a decline of 8%, the current economic climate kept a greater number of international visitors at home with a drop of a third. Exhibitor numbers were also affected.

Messe Frankfurt board member Dr Michael Peters said: "Our fairs present a mirror image of the current situation in the international market and this was to be seen clearly at Tendence. The decline in the number of international exhibitors, and consequently visitors, is primarily the logical result of the difficult economic climate in general."

However, DIY Week visited the show and the atmosphere seemed to be upbeat and positive. Some halls were obviously busier than others, but business was definitely being done. And it seems that the predictions going forward may be more positive. More than half the exhibitors polled by the show regarded the outlook as satisfactory to good compared with the more bullish buyers, three quarter of whom had the same opinion.