NEW YORK -- October 24, 2006 -- The Industry Measure today released its special report, “Printing Forecast 2007: The Industry Measure Perspective on the Challenges and Opportunities for the Printing Industry in the Next 12 Months and Beyond,” the Industry Measure’s annual look at the year ahead for printers, their clients, and their suppliers. The 193-page report analyzes the prevailing economic environment, the current state of the printing industry (drawing on both U.S. government data as well as The Industry’s Measure’s own 12-year historical database of survey results), and details the major forces the industry will have to contend with in the next year. “Printing Forecast 2007” also takes a close-up look at the most resent Industry Measure survey results on such hot industry topics as workflow automation, off-shoring of print, digital and variable-data printing, and more. The report also presents The Industry Measure’s latest investment projections for more than 200 equipment, hardware, and software categories. “Printing Forecast 2007” supplements its analysis of the printing industry with snapshots of the print-buying markets—graphic design and production firms and publishing companies—that The Industry Measure surveys regularly. The detailed examination of the creative markets puts the printing industry snapshot data in perspective, as the business and media trends and changes taking place in print-buying markets naturally affect the potential health of print providers. “Printing Forecast 2007” also provides a comprehensive look at current media trends and how new media technologies and platforms, and an increasing emphasis on multi-channel marketing, will likely impact the demand for print in both the near term and the long term. Upcoming special reports will provide The Industry Measure’s annual forecasts of the design and production and publishing markets. Industry Measure reports are available for online purchase at the Industry Measure eStore in PDF format (http://www.theindustrymeasure.com). Researcher's Comments “Business conditions for the printing industry have stabilized in the past two years, but more turmoil lies ahead. What trends are driving these business conditions? How will these trends play out in the next year? What can—and what should—companies in the industry do to better cope and succeed? The Industry Measure is in the unique position of being able to draw not only on data on the markets that produce print, but also data on the markets that buy print. It’s this ‘360-degree’ view of the entire market for print media that gives the ‘Printing Forecast 2007” its complete picture.” According to the Report - In Summer 2006, three out of 10 graphic design and production establishments expect that business conditions in the next 12 months will be “excellent”; - In Summer 2006, 76% of graphic design firms cited “collateral print projects” as a top sales opportunity, up from 74% six months earlier; - In Summer 2006, 72% of catalog publishers cited “direct mail projects” as a sales opportunity, up from 69% one year earlier. Availability The Industry Measure special report, “Printing Forecast 2007: The Industry Measure Perspective on the Challenges and Opportunities for the Printing Industry in the Next 12 Months and Beyond” is available for purchase by visiting the secure Industry Measure eStore online at www.theindustrymeasure.com or by phone at 866-873-6310. The price for the 148-page report is $995. Industry Measure eStore customers can download this report in PDF Acrobat format immediately after purchase. An Executive Summary of this report is available for $99.