Is the commercial print business picking up? The economic news is certainly mixed. One day, factory orders are up and the unemployment rate is down. The next day, we hear the recession is over but jobs are being lost. Advertising is coming back. No it’s not. Oh, that’s internet and television, not print. But ad pages are up. The recession is over, but three of my local competitors have gone bankrupt. What world are they living in?

Based on an entirely unscientific sampling of more than 100 printers, my qualitative assessment is that business is indeed improving. Almost all are busy, with few exceptions. The most negative comment I heard was that things were “seasonal”. That’s not to say these printers were optimistic, just that the cylinders were turning.

While it may not seem as if the recession of 2001 is over, the economy has indeed grown for six straight quarters. Print, is a lagging indicator. So my casual impressions are likely accurate; things should be looking up. And, of course, 2004 brings the Olympics and a presidential election.