Commentary & Analysis
January 2007 Printing Shipments +$343 million
By Dr. Joe Webb
Published: March 6, 2007
January 2007 was a good month for commercial printing shipments, up $343 million on a current dollar basis compared to January 2006. December shipments were revised up by yet another $12 million. This represents nine consecutive months of positive comparisons to the prior year. Current dollar shipments were up +4.9%.
On an inflation-adjusted basis, January was up $199 million compared to last year. This is the sixth month of inflation-adjusted positive comparisons to the prior year, and is +2.8% compared to last year.
It must be noted that the beginning of 2006 was very bad for our industry, and the comparisons are easy to beat. That is why it is important to compare the data to 2005 for a better perspective. On a current-dollar basis, January 2007 was $43 million better than 2005 (+0.6%), but down -$403 million on an inflation-adjusted basis (-5.2%).
Our longer term models for 2007 through 2009 are being updated, and we will have extended comments when they are posted later today.
Dr. Joe Webb, WTT Economics and Research Center
Click on the text below to see the comparisons with prior years.
January Shipments 2003-2007
Dr. Joe Webb is one of the graphic arts industry's best-known consultants, forecasters, and commentators. He is the director of WhatTheyThink.com's Economics and Research Center.
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