Well, this year just keeps getting better and better. Things had looked a tad bleak in June, but things picked up in July, and it’s been up, up, and away ever since. It’s only the slightest bit below the post-shutdown October 2020 and the full-blown “back in the black” 2022, but it’s still an impressive showing. (However, as we peruse the early returns from our Fall Business Outlook Survey, a common theme is that business has been great in terms of jobs/revenues, but various mitigating factors—employee costs, inflation, etc.—have not let profitability follow suit.  

January to October shipments are at $74.68 billion, still a bit short of—but closing in on—2023’s $75.30 billion.

Shipments usually take a tumble in November…maybe it won’t be so bad this year? 

Our Fall 2024 Print Business Outlook Survey is still in the field! Take it here.