WhatTheyThink updates data series of U.S. commercial printing shipments from 1992-2010, with forecasts to 2017; includes inflation-adjusted Consumer Price Index, PPI, Personal Consumption Expenditures price index

Kendall Sinclair

LEXINGTON, Kentucky , May 19, 2011 (press release) – WhatTheyThink is making an extensive and updated data series of U.S. Commercial printing shipments, ranging from 1992 to 2010, with forecasts to 2017, available in an exclusive data package with audio commentary by Dr. Joe Webb.

"These data are a critical benchmark for all executives who need to forecast the U.S. commercial printing industry and their own businesses. We have the original data as released by the U.S. Commerce Department in many convenient formats, but executives and forecasters need the data in a more convenient and with more analytical support," explained Dr. Webb.

"The best way to get a perspective about the actual shipments of the industry is to adjust for inflation," said Dr. Webb, the Director of the Economics and Research Center at WhatTheyThink. "The problem is determining which inflation adjustment to use. We explain all of the approaches, and what the differences show about print prices and print volumes."

The data are presented in monthly, quarterly, and annual formats, as well as 12-month and 4-quarter moving totals. The moving totals, according to Dr. Webb, make it easier to see long-term trends without seasonal variations. Inflation-adjusted adjusted data are presented by the Consumer Price Index, the Producer Price Index, the PPI for printing prices, as well as the Personal Consumption Expenditures price index, which is the same index used in the calculation of real Gross Domestic Product.

"Whether you're a hard core statistics junkie or an executive who needs a high-level view of trends and the data, you will find what you need here to get through a budgeting, planning, or forecasting process with greater confidence," Dr. Webb said. "It's also helpful to new executives who need a sense of perspective to understand the trends that are driving our industry."

Executives, researchers, and analysts who need to create trend reports, historical comparisons with company data, forecasts, charts and presentations, will find the data to be invaluable in their work.

An audio podcast file is included with the workbook. Dr. Joe Webb walks the user through the data, describes the inflation adjustments, and category definitions, and then discusses what the revised data mean and their effects on the overall industry outlook. He also explains the relationship of printing shipments with the general economy, the importance of inflation adjustment, and how sales per employee measures have changed over the years.

The package is an Excel workbook and audio commentary in MP3 format, available for $295 at:
http://store.whattheythink.com/economics/u-s-historical-printing-shipments-and-forecast-1992-2016

WhatTheyThink's Economics and Research Center contains a blend of free and premium content for graphic arts and publishing executives. It offers an online library of primary research reports, executive summaries of economic trends, and related industry columns, videos, podcasts and webinars.


About WhatTheyThink

WhatTheyThink is the printing and publishing industry's leading online media organization; offering a wide range of publications delivering unbiased, real-time market intelligence, industry news, economic and trend analysis, peer-to-peer communication, and special reports on emerging technology and critical events. Serving a membership base of more than 50,000, WhatTheyThink also hosts webinars and live events as well as providing content through a syndication program, which delivers content directly to related websites and through RSS. The organization also provides consulting and speakers bureau services to the industry.

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