Alexandria, VA (July 5, 2002) – According to data from Printing Industries of America’s (PIA) 2002 PIA Ratios survey, sponsored by Heidelberg, SAPPI and print Cafe, printers’ profit on sales declined to 1.0 percent for the average Ratios participant over this past year. This figure was lower than the 1.9 percent from the 1990 – 1991 recession and the lowest in over 30 years. Profit leaders, printers in the top 25 percent of profitability, averaged 8.0 percent profit on sales, representing a substantial decrease over last year’s (2000) figure of 10.5 percent and even lower than the 1990-91 figure of 8.9 percent. The most profitable printing sectors for Ratios participants were labels/wrappers and books with averaged profit rates of 4.3 percent and 3.4 percent respectively. At the other end of the profitability spectrum were forms/document printers and commercial/ advertising printers, who saw profits slip to 0.9 percent and 0.4 percent respectively. Dr. Ron Davis, PIA’s chief economist said, "Despite the tough economic climate in 2001, printers’productivity increased as sales per factory employee increased from $158,188 in 2000 to $162,054 in 2001." Davis goes on to say, "The worst appears to be over. 2001 was one of the roughest years the industry has ever seen. The slowing economy, the cutback in advertising and the impacts of 9/11 forced printers to cut costs, look for new revenue sources and improve efficiency. Our surveys indicate that print markets are slowly returning to health so printers’ bottom line should begin to improve soon." In its 81st year, PIA Ratios is the printing industry’s most accurate and valuable tool for strategic management, investment, productivity, and profitability. Owners, managers, and analysts use the reports to benchmark individual company operations against industry norms and profit leaders. The data collected is based on financial surveys of printers in the United States and Canada. This year a total of 720 printers participated in the survey. *profit = before tax profit on sales **information on ordering 2002 Ratios Study is attached Information on Ordering PIA’s 2002 Ratio’s Study Published in 17 volumes, the reports are available by size of printer, process, products, and geographic area. The cost for PIA/GATF members is $99 for each volume or $750 for the full set. For non-members the cost is $199 per volume or $1,500 for the full set. Prices do not include shipping and handling. To order the 2002 PIA Ratios, call the PIA/GATF Bookstore at 1-800/662-3916. The volumes available are: Volume 1: Management Guide to PIA Ratios Volume 2: All Printers by Sales Volume & Geographic Areas Volume 3: All Printers by Product Specialty Volume 4: Sheeted Printers by Size & Geographic Area Volume 5: Web Offset Printers, Heatset Volume 6: Web Offset Printers, Non-Heatset Volume 7: Combination Offset-Sheetfed Web Printers Volume 8: Book Manufacturers’ Ratios Volume 9: Printers With Sales Over $15,000,000 Volume 10: Prepress Specialists' Ratios Volume 11: Binders’ Ratios Volume 12: Printers With Sales Under $2,000,000 Volume 13: Quick Printers’ Ratios Volume 14: Forms & Documents Ratios Volume 15: Label Printers’ Ratios Volume 16: Digital Printers’ Ratios Volume 17: Commercial and Advertising