NAPL Printing Business Update Sees Healing from Recession
PARAMUS, NJ—July 29, 2010—“Since last summer we have been moving—albeit fitfully and painfully slowly—toward growth,” say economists at the National Association for Printing Leadership (NAPL) in the NAPL Printing Business Conditions update released to NAPL members this week. “That didn’t have to happen. That it did is evidence healing from our worst recession on record has finally begun.”
Although industry sales declined another 4.2% during the six months ending in May, “we’re clearly better off than we were a year ago, when sales were down 15.3% on a six-month basis, but still far off from where we want to be,” they added.
According to the report, sales were up for 44% of the 300+ member NAPL Printing Business Panel from January to May 2010, a vast improvement over the same period last year, when just 8.7% reported sales growth. Sales were still down during the January-May 2010 period for more than half (56%) of the Panel, but that was far better than the 91.3% who reported lower sales from January to May 2009.
“Of course we are benefitting from very easy year-over-year comparisons—i.e., it doesn’t take much to beat 2009’s grossly depressed numbers,” the report continues, “but our progress is also rooted in an economy that, although still fragile, is far healthier than it was a year ago.”
The July report includes a breakdown of sales distribution by percentage of increases or decreases, trends data on industry volume and payroll hours, and key macro economic indicators and statistics.
Rounding out the report are survey results on printing company leaders’ major concerns heading into the second half of 2010, two important action steps companies can take to alleviate their concerns, and an in-depth interview with an NAPL State of the Industry research participant on dealing with market changes and using technology and process outsourcing to protect business from commoditization.
NAPL Printing Business Conditions electronic newsletter updates, based on surveys of NAPL’s 300+ member industry Printing Business Panel, are part of the NAPL State of the Industry Series, sponsored by Heidelberg, which also includes the annual NAPL State of the Industry Report and Strategic Perspective study.
State of the Industry Series publications are provided as a membership benefit to NAPL corporate and associate members. For information, contact Membership Director Kristen Kitchen at (678) 594-0048, Ext. 104, or kkitchen@napl.org, or visit www.napl.org/membership .
About NAPL:
NAPL is a not-for-profit business management association representing companies in the $80+ billion commercial printing and graphic communications industry in North America. NAPL’s comprehensive slate of business-building solutions provides company leaders with the management tools they need to make informed business decisions in an ever-changing market environment. It addresses the unique concerns of small printers through the National Association of Quick Printers (NAQP). For more information on NAPL, visit www.napl.org or call (800) 642-6275.