ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA (August 27, 2001) – After enduring a tough year in 1999, printers in the forms and documents market saw profits rise last year according to the latest Printing Industries of America (PIA), Incorporated, Ratios survey sponsored by Heidelberg, Printer Alliance and Print Café. Profit as a percentage of sales rose from 0.77 percent in 1999, to 1.78 in 2000. In even more encouraging news, the percentage of value-added basis profits grew from 1.47 percent in 1999 to 2.55 percent in 2000. "The rebound in business forms printers’ profits reflect the strong economy during the first three quarters of 2000 and forms printers efforts to improve efficiency and productivity," said Dr. Ron Davis, PIA’s chief economist. Forms and document printers’ profits still remained well below the national average for the printing industry as a whole. Profit leaders in the binding industry—those firms in the top 25 percent of profitability—averaged 7.52 percent profit on sale and 12.68 percent on value added receipts. For 2000, forms and documents printers devoted more than 45.33 percent of their sales to materials, their biggest major cost item. Factory payroll expenses took over 24.52 percent of sales, while other factory expenses were about 12.04 percent. On a sales-per-employee basis, all forms and documents printers averaged $111,892, a 3 percent increase from 1999. In its 80th year, PIA Ratios is the printing industry’s most accurate and valuable tool for strategic management, investment, productivity and profitability. Owners, managers, and analysts use the reports to benchmark individual company operations against industry norms and profit leaders. The data collected is based on financial surveys of graphic arts firms in the U.S. and Canada. This year, a total of 800 graphic arts companies participated in the survey. Volume 11 provides detailed financial profiles for binders, including analysis of specific cost items, balance-sheet data and other financial ratios. Published in 18 volumes, the reports are available by size of printer, process, products, and geographic area. The cost to PIA and Graphic Arts Technical Foundation (GATF) members is $99 for each volume, or $750 for the full set. The cost to non-members is $199 per volume, or $1,500 for the full set. Prices do not include shipping and handling. Order the latest 2001 PIA Ratios online from the GAIN Bookstore or call the PIA/GATF bookstore toll-free by phoning 1-800-662-3916. Volumes available include the following: Volume 1: Management Guide to PIA Ratios (Item#00FM01001) Volume 2: All Printers by Sales Volume & Geographic Areas (Item#00FM01002) Volume 3: All Printers by Product Specialty (Item#00FM01003) Volume 4: Sheeted Printers by Size & Geographic Area (Item#00FM01004) Volume 5: Web Offset Printers, Heatset (Item#00FM01005) Volume 6: Web Offset Printers, Non-Heatset (Item#00FM01006) Volume 7: Combination Offset-Sheetfed Web Printers (Item#00FM01007) Volume 8: Book Manufacturers’ Ratios (Item#00FM01008) Volume 9: Printers With Sales Over $15,000,000 (Item#00FM01009) Volume 10: Prepress Specialists' Ratios (Item#00FM01010) Volume 11: Binders’ Ratios (Item#00FM01011) Volume 12: Printers With Sales Under $2,000,000 (Item#00FM01012) Volume 13: Quick Printers’ Ratios (Item#00FM01013) Volume 14: Business Forms Ratios (Item#00FM01014) Volume 15: Label Printers’ Ratios (Item#00FM01015) Volume 16: Digital Printers’ Ratios (Item#00FM01016) Volume 17: Commercial and Advertising (Item#00FM01017) Volume 18: In Plants (Item#00FM01018)