Printing industry makes progress

The printing industry in the United States has seen steady signs of progress over the past few quarters, with more businesses relying on materials that help to streamline the process.

According to research from What They Think, profits in the sector third-quarter increased from the prior quarter and have risen in the past eight quarters in a row. The study found that printing businesses took in a total of $3.96 billion during the last four quarters, adjusted for inflation. The money taken in profits generated marks the highest levels since 2007, when the sector reached $4.3 billion.

And while the better figures are considered there are still a number of issues that must be faced.

"Many challenges are ahead for the industry in 2012 and beyond, and increasing profits while the industry restructures, may finally improve the inflation-lagging wages of the industry and reverse sub-par investor returns," Joe Webb wrote on the site.

Webb went on to write that while the total volumes of printed material have gone down, the profits have been able to climb ever higher, suggesting a "restructuring" is taking place and calling on professionals to be aware of new opportunities.