Industry Headed in 'Right Direction'

“While the six-month average captures trend, the three-month average—which was down 18.1 percent at the deepest point in the recession—anticipates the direction of a trend,” the NAPL economists wrote. “As we approach mid-year, the free fall is over and we are moving toward growth.”

Part of the "NAPL State of the Industry" series, sponsored by Heidelberg, the report noted that 40.8 percent of NAPL Printing Business Panel members said sales increased last quarter—nearly five times the 8.6 percent that reported rising sales in the first quarter of 2009. And, while 59.2 percent now still report sales decreasing, that is down significantly from the 91.4 percent who reported sales were down at this time last year.