PARAMUS, N.J., APRIL 26, 2004 – Conditions are continuing to improve for the printing industry, according to the latest economic analysis from the National Association for Printing Leadership (NAPL). “From December 2003 through February of this year, print sales had their best three-month stretch in three years, and key indicators, such as work-on-hand, hiring plans, and the Printing Business Index are either positive or improving,” said Andrew Paparozzi, NAPL vice president and chief economist. The NAPL Printing Business Index (PBI), the Association’s broadest measure of print activity, rose to 58.1 in March, up from 54.0 in January and 44.4 in March, 2003. The PBI combines input from NAPL’s Printing Business Panel about work-on-hand, current business conditions, expected business conditions (confidence), hiring plans, profitability, and other key indicators into a single measure of activity. The NAPL Printing Business Panel is a representative group of more than 300 printers that the Association surveys monthly on a range of key printing issues. Since the same companies are surveyed every time, data are strictly comparable from period to period.