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.
We are very pleased to continue our partnership with Canon, we'd like to thank Canon for their support - this will ensure all survey respondents receive a printed copy of Printing Outlook.
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.
UK PRINTING INDUSTRY OUTPUT CONTINUES TO RECOVER - BUT OUTPUT PRICE INCREASES NOT ENOUGH TO OFFSET ENERGY, MATERIAL AND WAGE COST INCREASES AND RESTORE MARGINS
The UK printing and printed packaging industry has continued to grow in 2022, but the pace of that recovery has taken a setback in Q1 - output and orders are expected to continue to improve in Q2. The Q1 improvement came amidst the lifting of the Government's ‘Plan B' measures in January, following their introduction in December to help dampen the rate of Covid infections. Covid infections did spike in early January but then dropped quickly before a subsequent (but lower) spike in late March. Risks to further recovery remain high, particularly from the cost explosion for energy and materials, increased pressure on labour costs, and the heightened uncertainty linked to global unrest and the war in Ukraine.
The latest Printing Outlook survey reveals that 41% of printers managed to increase their output levels in the first quarter of 2022, a further 38% were able to hold output steady. However, the remaining 21% did experience a fall in their output levels. The resulting balance (the difference between the ups and the downs) was +20, well below the +45 in Q4, and below the Q1 forecast (+34). Whilst the lifting of the ‘Plan B' restrictions came quite early in the quarter, the restrictions did still have a limiting effect on the pace of recovery - as of course has the disruption caused by continued workplace absences due to Covid infections. However, a fourth consecutive quarter of positive output growth means that, for the first time in four years, output has increased for a full 12-month period.
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BPIF Printing Outlook Q2 2022
UK printing industry output continues to recover - but output price increases not enough to offset energy, materials and wage cost increases and restore margins.
BPIF Printing Outlook Q1 2022
Cost crisis and supply shortages to UK printing industry constrain growth in Q4 - recovery expected to continue in Q1 but confidence is fragile.
BPIF Printing Outlook Q4 2021
UK printing industry moves closer to pre-Covid levels as recovery gathers strength in Q3 - growth to continue in Q4 amidst mounting supply constraints and cost pressures.
BPIF Printing Outlook Q3 2021
Strong recovery in UK printing industry in Q2 but activity still short of pre-Covid levels - Q3 improvements expected despite intense cost pressures, pings and holidays.
BPIF Printing Outlook Q2 2021
Printing industry stabilised in Q1 - output, orders and confidence to recover in Q2 but cost pressures intensify squeeze on margins.
BPIF Printing Outlook Q1 2021
Confidence eroded as Q4 output and orders curtailed - a further downturn is now underway in Q1 but vaccine roll-out provides hope.
BPIF Printing Outlook Q4 2020
Confidence improved as output and orders rallied in Q3 - unfortunately road to recovery blocked in Q4.
BPIF Printing Outlook Q3 2020
Output and orders sink to new depths in Q2 amidst Covid enforced crisis in confidence - but rebuilding is underway in Q3.
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.
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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