Data Analysis
Paper Bag and Coated and Treated Paper Manufacturing—2010–2021
Published: June 28, 2024
According to County Business Patterns, in 2021 there were 276 establishments in NAICS 32222 (Paper Bag and Coated and Treated Paper Manufacturing). This category saw a net decrease in establishments of -13% since 2010. In macro news, Q1 GDP revised up to 1.4%. Full Analysis
Q1 Industry Profits: The Two Cities Become One (and Not a Good One)
Published: June 21, 2024
Quarter-over-quarter profit margin data can be fairly noisy but had been on a general upward trend since the trough of the pandemic—although we had another crash in Q4 2023, which is proving difficult to climb out of. Full Analysis
Sizing the European Print Industry
Published: June 18, 2024
Kicking off a regular series of country-by-country analyses, European section editor Ralf Schlözer looks at the demographics of the printing industry in Europe as a whole—identifying revenue, employment, and the number of establishments. Full Analysis
Other Paperboard Container Manufacturing Establishments—2010–2021
Published: June 14, 2024
According to County Business Patterns, in 2021 there were 276 establishments in NAICS 322219 (Other Paperboard Container Manufacturing). This category saw a net decrease in establishments of -21% since 2010. In macro news, inflation was virtually unchanged in May. Full Analysis
Vertical Market Research from Keypoint Intelligence Uncovers Key Industry Trends
Published: June 10, 2024
In late 2023, Keypoint Intelligence completed a comprehensive multi-client study to gain a better understanding of how print demand is changing in key vertical industries. The vertical industries that were covered in depth include education, finance/banking, healthcare, hospitality, insurance, manufacturing, retail, and publishing. Full Analysis
Tales from the Database: Finishing Up
Published: June 7, 2024
Drawing on six years’ worth of Print Business Outlook surveys, our “Tales from the Database” series looks at historical data to see if we can spot any particular hardware, software or business trends. This issue, we turn our attention to various aspects of finishing, including mailing and embellishments. Full Analysis
April Graphic Arts Employment A Mixed Bag
Published: May 31, 2024
Overall printing employment in April 2024 was generally up—+0.5% from March—with production employment up +1.3% and non-production employment down +1.4%. Full Analysis
Folding Paperboard Box Manufacturing—2010–2021
Published: May 24, 2024
According to County Business Patterns, in 2021 there were 578 establishments in NAICS 322212 (Folding Paperboard Box Manufacturing). This category saw a net decrease of 18% since 2010. In macro news,inflation in April eased a bit. Full Analysis
March Shipments: We Got Good News and Bad News
Published: May 17, 2024
March 2024 shipments came in at $7.24 billion, up from February’s $7.04 billion—and yet the worst March the industry has had. Full Analysis
Paperboard Container Manufacturing Establishments—2010–2021
Published: May 10, 2024
According to County Business Patterns, in 2021 there were 1,895 establishments in NAICS 32221 (Paperboard Container Manufacturing). This category saw a net decrease of 15% since 2010. In macro news, early Q2 GDP predictions are bullish. Full Analysis
March Graphic Arts Employment A Mixed Bag
Published: May 3, 2024
Overall printing employment in March 2024 was generally up—+0.4% from February—with production employment down -0.2% and non-production employment up +1.5%. Full Analysis
Internet Publishing and Broadcasting and Web Search Portal Establishments—2010–2021
Published: April 26, 2024
According to County Business Patterns, in 2020 there were 8,947 establishments in NAICS 51913 (Internet Publishing and Broadcasting and Web Search Portals). This category saw a net increase of 66% since 2010. In macro news, Q1 GDP is much lower than expected. Full Analysis
February Shipments: Well, At Least It’s Seasonal
Published: April 19, 2024
February 2024 shipments came in at $6.01 billion, down from January’s $7.04 billion—and right between February 2021 and 2022. Full Analysis
Assorted Publishing Establishments—2010–2021
Published: April 12, 2024
According to County Business Patterns, in 2021 there were 726 establishments in NAICS 511199 (All Other Publishing). This category saw a net decrease of 39% since 2010, although establishments spiked from 2020 to 2021. In macro news, estimates of Q1 GDP are running around +2%. Full Analysis
Tales from the Database: These Are Not the Applications You’re Looking For
Published: April 5, 2024
Drawing on six years’ worth of Print Business Outlook surveys, our “Tales from the Database” series looks at historical data to see if we can spot any particular hardware, software, or business trends. This issue, we turn our attention to specialty printing—or any printing beyond traditional offset or digital commercial work. Full Analysis
February Graphic Arts Employment Remains Generally Flat
Published: March 29, 2024
Overall printing employment in February 2024 was little changed from January, with production employment down -1.0%, while non-production employment was down -0.6%, with net employment down -0.1%. Full Analysis
Greeting Card Publishing Establishments—2010–2021
Published: March 22, 2024
According to the latest edition of County Business Patterns, in 2021 there were 113 establishments in NAICS 511191 (Greeting Card Publishers). Although this represents a net increase of 10% since 2010, it has been a category that has ebbed and flowed over the course of the decade, although we’re not talking about a tremendous number of establishments. In macro news, inflation increased in February. Full Analysis
January Shipments: Back to Normal?
Published: March 15, 2024
January 2024 shipments came in at $7.04 billion, up from December’s $6.94 billion—and right between January 2021 and 2022. Full Analysis
“Other” Publishing Establishments—2010–2021
Published: March 8, 2024
According to the latest edition of County Business Patterns, in 2021 there were 839 establishments in NAICS 51119 (Other Publishers). This represents a net decrease of 18% since 2010, but a 26% increase in the past year. In macro news, Q4 GDP was revised down slightly. Full Analysis
December Shipments: Ending the Year on a Low Note
Published: March 1, 2024
December 2023 shipments came in at $6.98 billion, down from November’s $7.24 billion—and, alas, the lowest of the year. Full Analysis
Directory and Mailing List Publishing Establishments—2010–2021
Published: February 23, 2024
According to the latest edition of County Business Patterns, in 2021 there were 548 establishments in NAICS 51114 (Directory and Mailing List Publishers). This represents a decrease of 67% since 2010. In macro news, retail sales dipped slightly in January. Full Analysis
January Graphic Arts Employment Generally Flat
Published: February 16, 2024
Overall printing employment in January 2024 was unchanged from December, with production employment up 0.7%, while non-production employment was down -1.3%. Full Analysis
Tales from the Database: Looking at the Cloud from Both Sides
Published: February 9, 2024
Drawing on eight years’ worth of Print Business Outlook surveys, our “Tales from the Database” series looks at historical data to see if we can glean any particular hardware, software, or business trends. This issue, we turn our attention to software—specifically, migration to the cloud. Full Analysis
Book Publishing Establishments—2010–2021
Published: February 2, 2024
According to the latest edition of County Business Patterns, in 2021 there were 2,386 establishments in NAICS 51113 (Book Publishing). Although this represents a decrease of 20% since 2010, establishments ticked up by 29 establishments in 2021. In macro news, Q4 GDP grew 3.3%. Full Analysis
November Shipments: Tis the Season…
Published: January 26, 2024
November 2023 shipments came in at $7.24 billion, down from the year’s high of $7.76 billion a month earlier. Full Analysis
Periodical Publishing Establishments—2010–2021
Published: January 19, 2024
According to the latest edition of County Business Patterns, in 2021 there were 4,315 establishments in NAICS 51112 (Periodical Publishing). This represents a decrease of 40% since 2010. In macro news, December retail sales were up from November. Full Analysis
Turnover and Employment in Print in Europe—Croatia
Published: January 16, 2024
This bi-weekly series of short articles aims to shed a spotlight on the size of the printing industry in Europe per country and how revenues and employment developed in 2020, when the pandemic impacted businesses. In this final installment, we look at Croatia, which ranks at number 19 among the printing industries by turnover in Europe. Full Analysis
October Shipments: Peak Performance
Published: January 12, 2024
October 2023 printing shipments came in at $7.84 billion, up from September’s $7.37 billion. Full Analysis
Tales from the Database: Prints Charming
Published: December 15, 2023
Drawing on six years’ worth of Print Business Outlook surveys, our “Tales from the Database” series looks at historical data to see if we can spot any particular hardware, software or business trends. In this installment, we turn our attention to printing technologies. Full Analysis
Newspaper Publishing Establishments—2010–2021
Published: December 8, 2023
According to the latest, recently released edition of County Business Patterns, in 2021 there were 6,260 establishments in NAICS 51111 (Newspaper Publishing). This represents a decrease of 20% since 2010. In macro news, what is going on with GDP? Full Analysis
Turnover and Employment in Print in Europe—Norway
Published: December 5, 2023
This bi-weekly series of short articles aims to shed a spotlight on the size of the printing industry in Europe per country and how revenues and employment developed in 2020, when the pandemic impacted businesses. This time we look at Norway, which ranks at number 18 among the printing industries by turnover in Europe. Full Analysis
September Shipments: Heading into the Fall
Published: December 1, 2023
September 2023 printing shipments came in at $7.42 billion, down from August’s $7.47 billion. Full Analysis
Publishing Establishments—2010–2021
Published: November 17, 2023
According to the latest, recently released edition of County Business Patterns, in 2020 there were 30,939 establishments in NAICS 511 (Publishing Industries [except Internet]). This represents an increase of 10% since 2010 and increase of 13% since 2016. In macro news, October inflation was unchanged from September. Full Analysis
October Graphic Arts Employment Up Slightly
Published: November 10, 2023
Overall printing employment in October 2023 was up 0.8% from September. Production employment was up 0.7% while non-production employment was up 1.1%. Full Analysis
Pre- and Postpress Establishments—2010–2021
Published: November 3, 2023
According to the latest, recently released edition of County Business Patterns, in 2021 there were 1,059 establishments in NAICS 32312 (Support Activities for Printing). This represents a decrease of 49% since 2010. In macro news, Q3 GDP was up 4.9%. Full Analysis
Turnover and Employment in Print in Europe—Denmark
Published: October 31, 2023
This bi-weekly series of short articles aims to shed a spotlight on the size of the printing industry in Europe per country and how revenues and employment developed in 2020, when the pandemic impacted businesses. This time we look at Denmark, the 17th largest printing industry by turnover in Europe and the third largest in the Nordic region. Full Analysis
August Shipments: …And We’re Up Again
Published: October 27, 2023
August 2023 printing shipments came in at $7.44 billion, up from July’s $7.04 billion. Full Analysis
Book Printing Establishments—2010–2021
Published: October 20, 2023
According to the latest, recently released edition of County Business Patterns, in 2021 there were 370 establishments in NAICS 323117 (Commercial Book Printing). This represents a decrease of 31% since 2010—but a decrease of -2.4% from 2020. In macro news, AIA’s Architecture Billings Index (ABI) indicates that demand for design services decelerated in September, boding ill for commercial real estate construction and thus signage projects. Full Analysis
Turnover and Employment in Print in Europe—Romania
Published: October 17, 2023
This bi-weekly series of short articles aims to shed a spotlight on the size of the printing industry in Europe per country and how revenues and employment developed in 2020, when the pandemic impacted businesses. This time we look at Romania, the fourth-largest printing industry by turnover in Central and Eastern Europe. Full Analysis
Q2 Industry Profits: The Latest From the Two Cities
Published: October 13, 2023
Quarter-over-quarter profit margin data can be fairly noisy but we’re on a general upward trend since the trough of the pandemic. Full Analysis
Tales from the Database: A Complete Package?
Published: October 6, 2023
Drawing on six years’ worth of Print Business Outlook surveys, our “Tales from the Database” series looks at historical data to see if we can spot any particular hardware, software or business trends. In this installment, we turn our attention to labels and packaging. Full Analysis
Screen Printing Establishments—2010–2020
Published: September 29, 2023
According to the latest, recently released edition of County Business Patterns, in 2021 there were 5,559 establishments in NAICS 323113 (Commercial Screen Printing). This represents an increase of 25% since 2010—but a decrease of -0.1% from 2020. In macro news, the third estimate of Q2 GDP is unchanged, but with some subtle changes “under the hood.” Full Analysis
Turnover and Employment in Print in Europe—Switzerland
Published: September 27, 2023
This bi-weekly series of short articles aims to shed a spotlight on the size of the printing industry in Europe per country and how revenues and employment developed in 2020, when the pandemic impacted businesses. This time we look at Switzerland, the eighth-largest printing industry by turnover in Europe. Full Analysis
July Shipments: Down, Down We Go
Published: September 22, 2023
In a year that continues to surprise, July 2023 printing shipments came in at $7.04 billion, down from June’s $7.40 billion. Full Analysis
Commercial Printing Establishments—2010–2021
Published: September 15, 2023
According to the latest, recently released edition of County Business Patterns, in 2021 there were 15,592 establishments in NAICS 323111 (Commercial Printing except Screen and Books). This represents a decline of 26% since 2010. In macro news, inflation is alas up. Full Analysis
European Print Volume Trends
Published: September 12, 2023
European section editor Ralf Schlözer takes a break from the Europen country-by-country look at turnover and employment to provide a bigger-picture look at print volumes in Europe pre- and post-pandemic. Full Analysis
August Printing Production Employment Basically Flat
Published: September 8, 2023
Overall printing employment in August 2023 was down 0.2% from July. Production employment was down 0.3% while non-production employment was up 0.2%. Full Analysis
Printing Establishments—2010–2021
Published: September 1, 2023
According to the latest, just-released edition of County Business Patterns, in 2021 there were 21,521 establishments in NAICS 32311 (Printing). This represents a decline of 20% since 2010. In macro news, Q2 GDP revised downward. Full Analysis
June Shipments: Up, Up, and Away
Published: August 25, 2023
In a year that continues to surprise, June 2023 printing shipments came in at $7.38 billion, up from May’s $7.26 billion. Full Analysis
Turnover and Employment in Print in Europe—Portugal
Published: August 21, 2023
This bi-weekly series of articles aims at shedding a spotlight on the size of the printing industry in Europe per country and how revenues and employment developed in 2020, when the pandemic impacted businesses. This time we look at Portugal, the 15th-largest printing industry by turnover in Europe. Full Analysis
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