Printers Feel Squeeze

As determined in a recent survey of PIA's membership, printing companies' energy costs have dramatically increased. According to the survey:

–90% of respondents experienced an increase in energy costs in the last year. Of those, 48% saw fuel costs rise between 11% and 50%, 11% experienced increases of 51% to 100%, and an additional 11% saw costs increase by 100% or more (in half of these cases, cost increases exceeded 300%).

–50% of those who saw costs go up registered hikes in electricity costs between 1% and 30%. An additional 5% saw costs increase by 100% or more.

–87% of those surveyed expect energy prices to increase within the year.

In addition, printers surveyed reported that if costs continue to rise they would be forced to take the following actions (multiple responses):

–add an energy surcharge (40%),

–change plans to expand business (33%),

–cut back jobs/salaries (29%),

–raise prices (16%), and

–cut products (8%).