“Since last summer we have been moving — albeit fitfully and painfully slowly — toward growth,” say economists at the National Association for Printing Leadership (NAPL) in the latest “NAPL Printing Business Conditions” update. “That didn’t have to happen. That it did is evidence healing from our worst recession on record has finally begun.”

　　Although industry sales declined another 4.2% during the six months ending in May, they add, “We’re clearly better off than we were a year ago, when sales were down 15.3% on a six-month basis, but still far off from where we want to be.”

　　According to the report, sales were up for 44% of the >300-member NAPL Printing Business Panel from January to May 2010, a vast improvement over the same period last year, when just 8.7% reported sales growth. Sales were still down during the January-May 2010 period for more than half (56%) of the panel, but that was far better than the 91.3% who reported lower sales from January to May 2009.

　　“Of course we are benefitting from very easy year-over-year comparisons — i.e., it doesn’t take much to beat 2009’s grossly depressed numbers,” the report continues, “but our progress is also rooted in an economy that, although still fragile, is far healthier than it was a year ago.”

　　The July report includes a breakdown of sales distribution by percentage of increases or decreases, trends data on industry volume and payroll hours, and key macro economic indicators and statistics.

[时间：2010-07-30  来源：必胜网]