2005 COMMERCIAL PRINTING outlook -- A Win-Lose Proposition

With the economy continuing to grow in the 3 percent to 4 percent range, printing shipments should expand by 3 percent next year, Davis estimates. Toner-based digital printing and ancillary services each should grow in excess of 4 percent.

According to the most recent PIA/GATF Quarterly Print Market Survey, overall print sales for the first nine months of 2004 were up 4.2 percent compared to the same period of 2003. Toner-based digital printing and ancillary services grew even faster, at 6 percent and 4.9 percent, respectively.