Paramus, NJ, November 16, 2001 — The National Association for Printing Leadership (NAPL) has published a groundbreaking and comprehensive state-of-the-industry report, which predicts that recession will turn to moderate growth and then to vigorous growth for the commercial printing industry over the next 18 months. According to The NAPL 2001-2002 State of the Industry Report, prepared by NAPL’s Printing Economic Research Center, the print industry is in a recession that began well before September 11. "Even without that day’s unspeakable tragedy, a meaningful upturn in business that supported healthy sales growth and relieved the intense pressure on printing industry profits wasn’t likely before next spring. Now it’s not likely until the second half of 2002," the report states. Among the evidence cited are the overall decline in sales and profitability experienced by the industry in 2001, as reported by the 300-member NAPL Printing Business Panel. In addition, the Printing Business Index, NAPL’s most comprehensive measure of printing activity, was below the critical 50.0 level for 11 consecutive months (see chart that follows on page four), before falling to a record low in September. The NAPL 2001-2002 State of the Industry Report emphasizes that the economic consequences of September 11 will extend well into the first half of next year. "The tragedy has deepened the downturn. And it has delayed recovery," the report points out. "But…it has also focused Washington’s attention on helping an economy that has desperately needed help for months," with the result that meaningful recovery for print is expected during the second half of 2002. In addition to covering the recession’s effect on print, The NAPL 2001-2002 State of the Industry Report includes the following critical issues: - Diversification Plans and What’s Growing Fastest – Services that printers plan to add over the next two years, how they plan to add them, and what they expect to be in greatest demand. - What the Leaders Say – How NAPL Long-Run Growth Leaders™ assess the state of commercial printing, and what they believe will define the most successful printing companies over the next two years. - Responding to Recession – A summary of recent NAPL research concerning the first steps printers take when the economy sours, the biggest obstacles to taking those steps, and what NOT to do, according to Long-Run Growth Leaders, when the downturn hits. - Product Markets – Estimated 2000-2001 sales growth, growth potential through 2003, and key trends, issues and concerns in 19 major print product markets, ranging from direct mail to manuals and documentation. Four appendices are also included, which describe the robust database supporting every NAPL economics report, as well as NAPL’s distinguished record in analyzing the printing industry’s performance and anticipating critical industry trends. The NAPL 2001-2002 State of the Industry Report is $249 for non-members and free to NAPL members (one copy per member). To order, call NAPL at 201-634-9600 or visit the NAPL website, www.napl.org. In addition, subscriptions to NAPL’s Leading Economic Indicators Service, which includes the quarterly Economic Edge, six issues of Printing Business Conditions, and the State of the Industry Report, are available to non-members for $1,500. These publications are also free with NAPL membership. For more information about NAPL’s economics program, contact Andrew D. Paparozzi, Chief Economist, NAPL Printing Economic Research Center, e-mail: [email protected]. About NAPL Chartered in 1933, NAPL is a not-for-profit trade association representing the $88 billion commercial printing industry. NAPL’s mission is to "Enable the printing community to profit from change," through a full range of management and educational services to its membership. In addition to on-site training at its Center for Professional Development in Paramus, New Jersey, and Management Institute (MI) courses held at Northwestern University, NAPL offers consulting services as well as an annual Top Management Conference (TMC) recognized as a leading source of strategic ideas. The organization’s Printing Economics Research Center (PERC) produces both the Economic Edge newsletter and the Leading Indicators Service, a source of late-breaking data on trends within the graphic arts industry, and its Communications Department develops and distributes a variety of industry-specific periodicals and special reports, including Printing Manager magazine. NAPL is also one-third owner of the Graphic Arts Show Company, which owns such major industry events as GRAPH EXPO and PRINT.