COMMERCIAL PRINTING Outlook -- Shadows Cast on 2006

Bottom line for the printing industry: revenues decline 1 to 2.5 percent.

Anticipating the obvious question, Davis asks, "Which scenario will prevail? For now, the most likely outcome is still for continued growth, but printers need to plan now for the other two scenarios."

Regardless of which track the economy most closely follows, the performance of individual printing sectors will vary, the industry economist notes. Direct mail, packaging and labels/wrappers will probably do better than other sectors, he believes. In all cases, digital printing and ancillary services should continue to be greater business opportunities than ink-on-paper printing.