Lexington, Kentucky, USA - August 20, 2001 - (The Printer Confidence Survey is conducted between the 14th and 18th of each month.) WhatTheyThink.com, the leading on-line community and research firm in the graphic arts industry, has released their Monthly Printer Confidence Survey. The study provides industry executives a ‘snap shot’ of trends in spending and confidence levels of print vendors. Key components of the monthly survey includes data connected to spending on paper and expectations related to major capital investments in the near future. Printers are asked about their spending on paper in the next 30 days and plans for capital expenditures associated with major equipment purchases in the coming 180 days. Results for August: Paper Spending Confidence Up 3%: Overall, paper spending confidence rose 3 percent from last month. 38 percent of printers surveyed said they anticipated an increase in their spending on paper in the next 30 days. 51 percent said there would be no change in their ordering of paper and 11 percent of printers said they would spend less on paper in the next 30 days. Major Capital Investments: Overall, capital spending confidence rose 2 percent to 55 percent - A majority of print executives surveyed said they would make at least one major equipment purchase in the next 6 months. This month, 27 percent said they plan to purchase production/press equipment in the next 180 days - down 3 percent from July. Printers saying they would make a near-term investment in finishing equipment went up 4 percent to 22 percent. In July, 28 percent of printers said they would invest in a new prepress system within six months. In August, 24 percent said they would purchase a prepress system. More at www.WhatTheyThink.com