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News Release -- San Diego, Calif. -- The environmental consulting & engineering (C&E) industry grew at a rate of 3.6% in 2011 to reach sales of $27.6 billion, according to annual analysis by Environmental Business Journal (EBJ). The sector's improving fortunes followed a modest recovery of 2.2% in 2010, after the unprecedented -4% decline of 2009 - the worst year since EBJ started tracking the environmental C&E sector in 1988.

Purchase EBJ's new report: "The U.S. Environmental Consulting & Engineering Industry" (Volume XXIV, Number 11, 19,000 words, 16 charts) for $150

Detailed analysis of 2011 performance, based on data compiled on 600 C&E firms, will be published by EBJ in 2012. However, interim snapshot surveys conducted in January and August 2011 indicated that, during 2011, clients in many industries were starting once again to take care of their environmental, health and safety issues, their property portfolios, and to some extent reinitiate a proactive approach to their sustainability strategies.

"While executives are nervous about the future of the environmental C&E industry-not least because it depends to a great extent on the economic fate of its major clients-they remain cautiously optimistic, forecasting nearly 5% growth in 2012," said EBJ Senior Editor George Stubbs.

Strongest prospects are shale gas exploration and production, renewable energy development, petroleum extraction and refining, mining, and power utilities, according to EBJ surveys. However, still lagging client rankings are property developers and state and local governments, recently joined by the federal markets.

"One of the greatest threats to the industry is the U.S. federal budget and associated deficit reduction issues," said Stubbs. "Environmental C&E firms that count on federal markets are hoping that their client relationships are solid and that the programs they're participating in survive the chopping block." The federal government accounted for approximately one third of U.S. environmental C&E revenues in 2010.

However, executives can take comfort that their firms are better managed than ever before, and profitability is holding its ground. EBJ also expects the environmental C&E industry to outperform gross domestic product (GDP) in 2012, as it has done annually since 1988 with just a few exceptions.

Last year also saw the number of mergers and acquisitions improve slightly over 2010, with even more deals expected in 2012, according to data and analysis by Environmental Financial Consulting Group (EFCG; New York, N.Y.) presented in this edition. Also featured: Perspective on the future of mid-size firms by Steve Gido of Rusk, O'Brien, Gido + Partners; and on global environmental consulting by Ross Griffiths of Environment Analyst.

Exhibits and data included in this edition:

• Top 60 Consulting & Engineering Firms in 2010 ranked by environmental revenues
• Summary of U.S. Environmental Consulting & Engineering vs. GDP
• U.S. Environmental C&E Industry Growth and Revenues by Media
• Growth & Profitability in Engineering/Consulting Firms
• International Revenues of U.S. Environmental C&E Firms in 2010
• Distribution of Environmental C&E Firms in 2010 by Size
• 2010 U.S. C&E Growth by Size Category
• Market Share by Services in Global Environmental Consulting
• Regional Leadership in Global Environmental Consulting
• Global Market for Environmental Consulting & Engineering
• Environmental Market in Chile
• Representative Deals of Mid-Sized Consulting & Engineering Firms

Purchase EBJ's new report: "The U.S. Environmental Consulting & Engineering Industry" (Volume XXIV, Number 11, 19,000 words, 16 charts) for $150

For comment and access to research, contact:
Grant Ferrier, President, EBI Inc.
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