Economic Slowdown Behind Printers' Low Expectations

In February, 23.4% of the printers surveyed by NAPL expect business to improve in the next six months, down from 34.7% last August (2000's peak) and 33.7% a year ago. In contrast, 25.9% expect decline, up from 9.3% last August, 11.5% last February, and the highest percentage in 11 years.

Just 11.5% of Western printers expect business to improve, down from 39.3% a year ago and the lowest of any region. Meanwhile, 38.5% anticipate decline, up from 14.3% last February and the highest of any region.

More Midwestern printers think business will improve (22.1%) rather than decline (29.9%). Last year, however, twice as many expected business to improve (29.9%) as foresaw decline (14.3%).

In the South, the percentage of printers expecting business improvement is only slightly lower than a year ago—26.2%, down from 27.7%—but the percentage expecting decline has nearly tripled, to 28.6% from 10.6%.

In the East, just 27.7% of printers anticipate improvement, down from 39.4% in August and 31.3% last February. A total of 29.8% expect business to decline, up from 11.1% last summer and 8.3% a year ago.

Printer's Pulse data is based on input from approximately 520 commercial printers on the NAPL Select Business Panel, and compiled by the Printing Economic Research Center, National Association for Printing Leadership. Respondents are selected to be geographically representative of the industry, and encompass all sizes, product categories, and processes.

Questions about Printer's Pulse can be directed to NAPL chief economist Andrew Paparozzi toll-free, at 1-800-642-NAPL (in Canada, telephone 1-800-336-2751). Survey findings are covered more extensively in NAPL's quarterly Printing Business Report; to order a subscription, contact NAPL Customer Service, 75 W. Century Rd., Paramus, N.J. 07652.