Printing Outlook is the BPIF's quarterly printing industry trends survey, compiled primarily from an online survey of BPIF members. It covers topics such as: your top business concerns, orders, output, price levels, capacity, costs, margins, investment, pay reviews, productivity, late payment and payment terms, public sector procurement, Web-to-print and paper & board prices and supply.
As well as reporting on the BPIF's latest quarterly survey of trends in the printing industry, Printing Outlook now incorporates:
- UK headline economic data
- CBI forecasts and assessment
- Paper and board consumption statistics from the Confederation of Paper Industries (CPI) and sector insight from EMGE (paper industry consultants)
- Printing Ink sales volumes and values from the British Coatings Federation (BCF)
- Energy sector commentary from Schneider Electric
- The latest print and printed packaging Red Flag Statistics and Financial Health statistics compiled especially for the BPIF by Red Flag Alert and Begbies Traynor
- Insolvency statistics for the printing sector
- Advertising sector data and analysis from the Advertising Association / Warc Expenditure Report and the IPA Bellwether Report
Printing Outlook is widely reported in the trade press, and feeds into the Bank of England and their provision of data to the Monetary Policy Committee. It is required reading for many suppliers to and investors in the industry, and is used by the BPIF to help represent the interests of our industry to other trade associations, the CBI, Government and the European and worldwide printing industries.
BPIF members can download the full report below; Printing Outlook press releases are available here.
DEMAND AND CONFIDENCE DECIMATED IN Q1 AS COVID-19 IMPACT STRIKES THE PRINTING INDUSTRY - Q2 TO BEAR THE BRUNT OF THE DOWNTURN
The UK printing and printed packaging industry suffered a dramatic shock at the end of Q1 2020. 2019 ended with two successive quarters of marginal improvements in output, and a more positive forecast for Q1 - the COVID-19 outbreak hit hard and fast to negate the forecast and sink both output and order performance balances deep into record negative territory. Orders and output are forecast to deteriorate further in Q2, despite the stabilising effect from much of the packaging sector.
The latest Printing Outlook survey reveals that 17% of printers increased output levels in the first quarter of 2020. Slightly more respondents (23%) held output steady, whilst 60% experienced a decline in output. The resulting balance (the difference between the ups and the downs) was -43, a long way below +6 in Q4 and the Q1 forecast (+15).
The worst quarterly report for 11 years - since Q1 2009 and the immediate aftermath of the financial crisis.
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BPIF Printing Outlook Q2 2020
Demand and confidence decimated in Q1 as COVID-19 impact strikes the printing industry - Q2 to bear the brunt of the downturn.
BPIF Printing Outlook Q1 2020
Q4 disappoints as orders and output only marginally outperform restrained forecast - hope for Q1 as expectations for confidence strengthen.
BPIF Printing Outlook Q4 2019
Lacklustre Q3 as output skips the seasonal boost - flat expectations for Q4 may be boosted by election fever, despite underlying confidence issues.
BPIF Printing Outlook Q3 2019
Growth and confidence hit in Q2 – output expected to recover in Q3 but restoring confidence will take longer.
BPIF Printing Outlook Q2 2019
Q1 growth slowed but held above forecast as confidence defied negative expectations - forecasts subdued for Q2.
BPIF Printing Outlook Q1 2019
Seasonal boost stimulates slight recovery in confidencse - expected to subside in Q1 as output and order growth recedes.
BPIF Printing Outlook Q4 2018
Q3 output bounced back to justify the positive forecast - seasonal boost to extend into Q4 despite fragility in confidence.
BPIF Printing Outlook Q3 2018
Q2 output and orders matched the downbeat forecast - boost expected in Q3 despite confidence and cost concerns.
BPIF Printing Outlook Q2 2018
Better than expected Q1 for output and orders - tougher times ahead as pricing and cost concerns dampen forecasts.
The BPIF is the printing industries champion. By becoming a member you join a diverse and influential community. We help you solve business problems, connect you to new customers and suppliers and make your voice heard in government.
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