July 2022

Boost to output for UK printing in Q2

Confidence for Q3 dips amidst concern over the impact of rising energy prices

The UK printing and printed packaging industry showed stronger growth in Q2 2022, as output and orders performed slightly better than forecast - but a continued recovery is expected to be under more pressure in Q3. Covid hasn't vanished, and worldwide cost inflation is not providing an ideal climate for companies in the UK printing and printed packaging industry to operate. However, strong output and stable orders enabled growth to be positive in Q2.

The latest Printing Outlook survey reveals that 50% of printers managed to increase their output levels in the second quarter of 2022, a further 36% were able to hold output steady. However, the remaining 13% did experience a fall in their output levels. The resulting balance (the difference between the ups and the downs) was +37, well above the +20 in Q1, and above the Q2 forecast (+29). A fifth consecutive quarter of positive output growth means that we are in the longest positive run for output since the period ending in Q2 2018.