As this year’s Canton Fair draws to a close, there are strong indications that the global economic crisis has hurt attendance, AP reports. The country’s biggest trade show began on October 15, and attendance figures won’t be available until the final session ends on Thursday, but attendees and exhibitors were gloomy about the business prospects. One British businessman who has attended the fair for more than a decade said it was "frightening" how few people have turned out this year. For more than 50 years, the fair has been an indicator of international demand for Chinese goods. Organizers said there were more than 55,600 booths at this fair, a 30% increase from the last show.