Our developing relationship with the economic statistics provider ExpliStats allows the WhatTheyThink Economics and Research Center to have access to many new data series that provide perspective about states and regions, not just national data. The chart shows the changes in the average number of employees per establishment in the US and large printing states. The average size of printing businesses in an area offers clues to the kinds of printing produced there and the history of the industry in that area. Illinois, where there were major corporate headquarters and is a central state with good transportation throughout the country, tended to have more large shops than typical. Many of the prime printed products produced in the area have declined, and unionized printers have had great competition from printers in other geographies. The state has had well-documented economic problems, and average employment has declined. Florida has many retirees and tourism businesses, which have tended to use local printers for their needs. The Texas printing industry benefits from a stronger local economy, and some establishments have been growing. Despite California's problems, its strong high tech and entertainment industries have kept this printing establishment characteristic stable.