Key insights about the latest economic, media, and technology trends can help graphic communications pros grow their businesses in the new year.

Lexington, KY - Despite a sluggish economy, there are many companies that are bucking general economic trends and successfully navigating their challenges. The latest WhatTheyThink Economics & Research Center (ERC) Business Conditions survey of U.S. commercial printers showed:

• 51% said that revenues had increased in 2010 compared to 2009.
• 36% said that revenues had increased by more than 6%, up from 30% who had said this in the ERC’s June 2010 survey.
• 53% expect 2011 revenues to increase by more than 6%, up from the 31% who said this in June.
• The ERC Business Conditions Index (BCI) for the U.S. commercial printing industry ticked up half a percentage point from June to December—and is at the highest since the survey was started in March 2008.

Despite the economy, the printing industry is generally optimistic about the new year. It has completed a difficult restructuring through closures, acquisitions, and mergers, running much leaner than it has in recent years.

WhatTheyThink, the leading news and information site for the graphic communications industry, announces the immediate availability of the January 2011 Business Conditions Report. This 68-page report provides the results of the Economics and Research Center’s December 2010 survey of print business owners, and compares these results to past quarterly surveys to provide an accurate gauge of how print business professionals perceive the economic landscape and how those perceptions are changing. In addition to the ERC’s own survey results, we provide the most current data available on printing industry shipments, profits, and employment.

The report also includes a wealth of other national economic data, such as GDP, unemployment, inflation, consumer confidence, and more, which puts printing industry performance in perspective.  WhatTheyThink's commentary explains how prevailing economic conditions and the market for print are now related and how they will respond. The report also includes the ERC’s own hand-picked set of economic indicators that provide a “recovery roadmap” to let us know when the economy is on the upswing. The report suggests what industry businesspeople can look forward to as we begin 2011. Listen to Dr. Joe Webb interview report author Richard Romano in this free podcast.

Marketing and production data are also part of the report. Information about  print production services and technologies that have been increasing, which ones have been declining, and the services that print businesses say they will be adding in 2011.  

The Business Conditions Report identifies new and emerging communication and technology trends, giving graphic communication businesses and their suppliers a “heads up” on what marketers, advertisers, publishers, and printers will be talking about as the year progresses. It includes latest news on location services (such as mobile marketing), tablet computing, inkjet developments, and marketing and advertising spending forecasts.

The January 2011 Business Conditions Report was created for graphic communication professionals, whether they are printers, publishers, graphic designers, or industry suppliers. It is available for online purchase at the WhatTheyThink eStore in PDF format.

Editor’s Note...

Additional information pertaining to each report is available for editorial purposes. Please make inquiries directly to Cary Sherburne at 603-430-5463 or [email protected],  or visit WhatTheyThink.com.

About WhatTheyThink...

WhatTheyThink comprises the largest graphic arts community in the print industry. Started in March 2000, WhatTheyThink.com provides daily news, interviews, research, and many more resources to our members. Our goal is to provide unbiased, real-time market intelligence to print and publishing executives.