Data Analysis

Greeting Card Publishers—2010–2018

Published: July 2, 2021

According to County Business Patterns, in 2010, there were 10,258 employees in NAICS 511191 (Greeting Card Publishers). Over the course of the decade, employment has been up and down, reaching 13,690 in 2018. In sort of macro news, Las Vegas tourism traffic rose substantially in May 2021, as conventions were poised to reopen. Full Analysis

May Graphic Arts Employment—Getting a Little Better

Published: June 25, 2021

In May 2021, all printing employment was up +0.7% from February, production employment up +1.4%, and non-production printing employment down -0.8%. Full Analysis

European Print Industry Snapshot: Poland

Published: June 22, 2021

In this bimonthly series, WhatTheyThink is presenting the state of the printing industry in different European countries based on the latest monthly production numbers. This week, we take a look at the printing industry in Poland. Full Analysis

Directory and Mailing List Publishers—2010–2018

Published: June 18, 2021

According to County Business Patterns, in 2010, there were 41,489 employees in NAICS 51114 (Directory and Mailing List Publishing). Over the course of the decade, employment had plummeted to a low of 14,379. In macro news, new business creation has been at record highs. Full Analysis

Shipments: A New Season?

Published: June 11, 2021

April 2021 printing shipments came in at $6.80 billion, a slight downturn from March’s $6.98 billion, but is consistent with the pattern we have been tracking over the past five years. Full Analysis

European Print Industry Snapshot: Belgium

Published: June 8, 2021

In this bimonthly series, WhatTheyThink is presenting the state of the printing industry in different European countries based on the latest monthly production numbers. This week, we take a look at the printing industry in Belgium Full Analysis

Book Publishing Employees—2010–2018

Published: June 4, 2021

According to County Business Patterns, in 2010, there were 81,511 employees in NAICS 51113 (Book Publishing). Over the course of the decade, employment had dropped to a low of 64,085, but climbed back up to 73,108 in 2018. In macro news, the Great Rebound is underway. Full Analysis

Two Macroeconomic Indicators

Published: May 28, 2021

This week’s Friday data dump looks at two macroeconomic indicators that will give us some sense of how we are bouncing back from the pandemic—the Industrial Production Index, and Retail Sales. Full Analysis

Periodical Publishing Employees—2010–2018

Published: May 21, 2021

According to County Business Patterns, in 2010, there were 134,432 employees in NAICS 51112 (Periodical Publishing). By 2018, employees had decreased to 84,424. In macro news, ecommerce as a percent of retail sales has dropped almost back to its pre-pandemic level. Full Analysis

European Print Industry Snapshot: Netherlands

Published: May 18, 2021

In this bimonthly series, WhatTheyThink is presenting the state of the printing industry in different European countries based on the latest monthly production numbers. This week, we take a look at the printing industry in the Netherlands Full Analysis

Shipments: We Told You

Published: May 14, 2021

Last month, we said that “shipments can only get better from here”—and we were right. March shipments roared back from a historical low of $6.39 billion in February to $7.44 billion in March, the second best March in the past five years. Full Analysis

March Graphic Arts Employment—Getting Back to Work

Published: May 7, 2021

In March 2021, all printing employment was up +1.5% from February, production employment up +1.1%, and non-production printing employment up +2.2%. Full Analysis

Printing 2021 Quick Look: Top Investments

Published: May 5, 2021

According to data from our recently published Printing Outlook 2021 special report, one-fourth of print businesses have no major investment plans for 2021. Full Analysis

European Print Industry Snapshot: Portugal

Published: May 4, 2021

In this bimonthly series, WhatTheyThink is presenting the state of the printing industry in different European countries based on the latest monthly production numbers. This week, we take a look at the printing industry in Portugal. Full Analysis

Newspaper Publishing Employees—2010–2018

Published: April 30, 2021

According to County Business Patterns, in 2010, there were 264,833 employees in NAICS 51111 (Newspaper Publishing). By 2018, employees had decreased to 153,060. In macro news, Q1 GDP was up 6.4%. Full Analysis

Shipments: They Can Only Get Better from Here

Published: April 23, 2021

We didn’t kick off 2021 very auspiciously, with January printing shipments coming in at $6.57 billion, down from December 2020’s $7.17 billion, and then a further drop in February to $6.34 billion. Full Analysis

Printing 2021 Quick Look: Top Challenges

Published: April 21, 2021

According to data from our recently published Printing Outlook 2021 special report, recovering business lost to COVID and national economic conditions dominated printers’ top challenges—but traditional challenges will gain prominence post-COVID. Full Analysis

European Print Industry Snapshot: Spain

Published: April 20, 2021

In this bimonthly series, WhatTheyThink is presenting the state of the printing industry in different European countries based on the latest monthly production numbers. This week, we take a look at the printing industry in Spain. Full Analysis

Publishing Employees—2010–2018

Published: April 16, 2021

According to County Business Patterns, in 2010, there were 907,152 employees in NAICS 511 (Publishing Industries—except Internet). By 2018, employees had increased to 1,015,946. In macro news, retail sales were up 9.8% in March. Full Analysis

Printing 2021 Quick Look: 2021 Profits

Published: April 14, 2021

According to data from our recently published Printing Outlook 2021 special report, print businesses expect a +8.1% increase in profits from 2020 to 2021. Full Analysis

Profits: Back to the Tale of Two Cities

Published: April 9, 2021

We’ve long been calling it “a tale of two cities”—large printers and small/mid-size printers and the profitability gap between them. The pandemic interrupted this ongoing narrative temporarily, but back in Q3 2020, we started to return to normal, at least in terms of industry profits trends, which continued into Q4. Full Analysis

Printing 2021 Quick Look: 2020 Profits

Published: April 7, 2021

According to data from our recently published Printing Outlook 2021 special report, print businesses reported a -9.1% decline in profits from 2019 to 2020. Full Analysis

European Print Industry Snapshot: France

Published: April 5, 2021

In this bimonthly series, WhatTheyThink is presenting the state of the printing industry in different European countries based on the latest monthly production numbers. This week, we take a look at the printing industry in France. Full Analysis

Pre- and Postpress Employees—2010–2018

Published: March 26, 2021

According to County Business Patterns, in 2010, there were 32,906 employees in NAICS 32312 (Support Activities for Printing). By 2018, employees had declined to 22,855. In macro news, Q4 2020 GDP was revised up. Full Analysis

Printing 2021 Quick Look: Anticipated 2021 Jobs/Orders

Published: March 24, 2021

According to data from our recently published Printing Outlook 2021 special report, print businesses expect print industry jobs/orders to rebound +9.0% from 2020 to 2021. Full Analysis

European Print Industry Snapshot: Italy

Published: March 23, 2021

In this bimonthly series, WhatTheyThink is presenting the state of the printing industry in different European countries based on the latest monthly production numbers. This week, we take a look at the printing industry in Italy. Full Analysis

Graphic Arts Employment—February 2021

Published: March 19, 2021

In February 2021, all printing employment is down -0.5% from January, production employment down -0.4%, and non-production printing employment down -0.8%. Full Analysis

Printing 2021 Quick Look: 2020 Jobs/Orders

Published: March 17, 2021

According to data from our recently published Printing Outlook 2021 special report, the average number of jobs decreased -10.8% from 2019 to 2020. Full Analysis

Book Printing Employees—2010–2018

Published: March 12, 2021

According to County Business Patterns, in 2010, there were 28,935 employees in NAICS 323117 (Book Printing Establishments). By 2018, employees had declined to 21,976. In macro news, inflation was soft in February. Full Analysis

Printing 2021 Quick Look: Anticipated 2021 Revenues

Published: March 10, 2021

According to data from our recently published Printing Outlook 2021 special report, print businesses expect print industry revenues to rebound +9.1% from 2020 to 2021. Full Analysis

January Printing Shipments—They Can Only Get Better from Here

Published: March 5, 2021

We kicked off 2021 inauspiciously with January printing shipments coming in at $6.61 billion, down from 2020’s $7.17 billion. It's the worst January in at least the last five years, but already things are boding well for the rest of 2021. Full Analysis

Printing Outlook 2021 Quick Look: 2020 Revenues

Published: March 3, 2021

According to data from our recently published Printing Outlook 2021 special report, print industry revenues dropped -12.6% from 2019 to 2020, compared to +4.1% from 2018 to 2019. Full Analysis

European Print Industry Snapshot: United Kingdom

Published: March 2, 2021

In this bimonthly series, WhatTheyThink is presenting the state of the printing industry in different European countries based on the latest monthly production numbers. This week, we take a look at the printing industry in the United Kingdom. Full Analysis

Commercial Screen Printing Employees—2010–2018

Published: February 26, 2021

In 2010, there were 57,674 employees working in US screen printing establishments (NAICS 323113). By 2018, that number had increased +12.4% to 64,840. In macro news, seven “recovery indicators” for parts of the economy most acutely impacted by the pandemic. Full Analysis

December Printing Shipments—One Last Unexpected Twist for 2020

Published: February 19, 2021

In December 2020, in one last, end-of-the-year rally, printing shipments grew from $7.0 billion to $7.17 billion. Full Analysis

European Print Industry Snapshot: Germany

Published: February 15, 2021

In this bimonthly series, WhatTheyThink is presenting the state of the printing industry in different European countries based on the latest monthly production numbers. This week, we take a look at the printing industry in Germany. Full Analysis

Commercial Printing Employees (Less Screen and Books)—2010–2018

Published: February 12, 2021

In 2010, there were 380,107 employees working in US establishments in NAICS 323111 (Commercial Printing–Except Screen and Books). By 2018, that number had declined -13.5% to 328,845. In macro news, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased 0.3% in January, or 1.4% over the last 12 months. Full Analysis

Q3 2020 Profits—Back on Track…Sort Of

Published: February 5, 2021

Annualized printing industry profits for Q3 2020 rose from -$1.92 billion to -$1.19 billion. That’s still really low, but at least it’s headed back toward positive territory. Full Analysis

European Print Industry Snapshot: Lithuania

Published: February 1, 2021

In this bimonthly series, WhatTheyThink is presenting the state of the printing industry in different European countries based on the latest monthly production numbers. This week, we take a look at the printing industry in Lithuania and the Baltic states. Full Analysis

Commercial Printing Employees—2010–2018

Published: January 29, 2021

In 2010, there were 499,622 employees working in US establishments in NAICS 323. By 2018, that number had declined -12.2% to 438,516. In macro news, real GDP increased at an annual rate of 4.0% in Q4 2020. Full Analysis

Graphic Arts Employment—December 2020

Published: January 22, 2021

In December 2020, all printing employment was up +0.7% from November, production employment up +0.1%, and non-production printing employment up +1.9%. So, basically, a holding pattern—although it’s nice that there are no negative numbers…for almost everyone. Full Analysis

European Print Industry Snapshot: Hungary

Published: January 18, 2021

In this bimonthly series, WhatTheyThink is presenting the state of the printing industry in different European countries based on the latest monthly production numbers. This year kicks off with a look at the printing industry in Hungary. Full Analysis

US Copy Center Establishments—2010–2018

Published: January 15, 2021

In 2010, there were 6,026 establishments in NAICS 561439 (Business Service Centers [Including Copy Shops]). By 2018, that number had declined to 5,305. In macro news, weekly initial unemployment claims were at 965,000, an increase of 181,000 from the previous week. Full Analysis

November Printing Shipments—It Was Nice While It Lasted

Published: January 8, 2021

In November 2020, after rising for five straight months, printing shipments plunged from $7.63 billion to $7.0 billion. Full Analysis

Stationery Product Manufacturing Establishments—2012–2018

Published: December 18, 2020

In 2010, there were 496 establishments in NAICS 32223 (Stationery Product Manufacturing). By 2018, that number had declined to 359. In macro news, retail sales for November took a dip. Full Analysis

European Print Industry Snapshot: Turkey

Published: December 15, 2020

In this bimonthly series, WhatTheyThink is presenting the state of the printing industry in different European countries based on the latest monthly production numbers. This last installment for 2020 features a look at the printing industry in Turkey. Full Analysis

October Printing Shipments—The "Best" October in Five Years?

Published: December 11, 2020

In October 2020, printing shipments rose to $7.63 billion—the fifth straight month of increasing shipments, as the industry rebound from the depths of the spring continues. Full Analysis

Other Paperboard Container Manufacturing Establishments—2012–2018

Published: December 4, 2020

In 2012, there were 348 establishments in NAICS 322219 (Other Paperboard Container Manufacturing). By 2018, that number had declined to 290. In macro news, highlights (if you want to call them that) from the most recent Federal Reserve “Beige Book.” Full Analysis

European Print Industry Snapshot: Portugal

Published: December 2, 2020

In this bimonthly series, WhatTheyThink is presenting the state of the printing industry in different European countries based on the latest monthly production numbers. This week features a look at the printing industry in Portugal. Full Analysis

Paper Bag and Coated and Treated Paper Manufacturing Establishments—2010–2018

Published: November 20, 2020

In 2010, there were 825 establishments in NAICS 32222 (Paper Bag and Coated and Treated Paper Manufacturing). By 2018, that number had declined to 725, despite a spurt of growth in 2012. In macro news, initial unemployment claims were 742,000, an increase of 31,000 from the previous week's revised level. Full Analysis