After a drop of around 4% in 2001, the US market for printing & publishing has climbed at an average 3% annually since to reach a value approaching $220 billion towards the end of 2004.

Advertising, both online and print, is on the rise again in the US, leading the industry in terms of revenues generated in 2004 and also the fastest growing sector. Companies are now willing to pay more for advertising and this factor, when added to the escalating revenues from online and niche, or targeted audience, publications, seems set to drive further strong growth within the sector into 2005. Rising energy and raw material costs pose the biggest cost threat to the industry moving forward although they should not affect the industrys projected strong growth.