Printing Not Among the Industries Worst Affected by the Recession

PARAMUS, NJ—March 5, 2009—According to the NAPL Printing Economic Research Center (PERC), while the printing industry has been hit hard by the economic downturn, it is by no means alone. Based on data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Manufacturers’ Shipments, Inventories, & Orders report, printing was one of ten major manufacturing groups in which shipments fell in 2008. However, printing’s 3.9% decline for the year was far from being the worst: Seven other industries recorded steeper declines, with textile products (-12.3%) and transportation equipment (-10.3%) topping the list. Total manufacturing shipments were up 2.0% for the year.