Industry Headed in 'Right Direction'

Conditions in the printing industry have improved, but only relative to the deeply depressed levels of spring 2009, according to economists at the National Association for Printing Leadership (NAPL) in the NAPL Printing Business Conditions update recently released.

Sales are still down, they noted, but trends over the last three and six months show that the industry is headed in the "right direction." However, as the economy heats up, so will cost inflation, and the NAPL economists noted it is difficult for printers to pass on higher costs to customers in markets that are still weak and intensely competitive.