COMMERCIAL PRINTING Outlook -- Shadows Cast on 2006

The potential for acceleration of the growth rate of inflation and rising long-term interest rates are the biggest risk factors going forward, Paparozzi believes. "It could take up to a year for their effects to work through the economy," he says.

Printers Shifting Gears

Regardless of how the economy performs, NAPL's latest market data indicates there's been a big shift in thinking among printers as to what services hold the greatest sales potential. "Variable content-capable digital printing" was the top response to a question on the 2006 State of the Industry survey that asked, "What services do you expect to grow fastest over the next two years?"