The latest Printing Industry Trends Survey reported reduced profits, sales, production and employment along with a rise in costs and debtor numbers.

The September quarter also saw finance become harder to obtain for the 19th consecutive quarter and labour availability worsen for the 11th consecutive quarter.

Capacity levels improved but remained at “historically low levels” – 53.8% of respondents had capacity levels of at least 70%, compared to 41.7% in June.

One bright spot was increased investment in plant and machinery over the past six months, although building investment fell.

The December quarter is forecast to produce improvements in profits, sales, production and labour availability.

[Related: PIAA’s June quarter report]

However, respondents also expect deterioration in prices, costs, employment, debtor numbers and finance availability.

The most optimistic sectors are screenprinting and security printing, while the gloomiest are machinery and supplies, trade binding, and business forms and continuous stationery.

The Printing Industry Association of Australia’s national manager for policy and government affairs, Hagop Tchamkertenian, cautioned that forecasts over the past five years had generally been over-confident.

He also noted that the introduction of the carbon tax in the last quarter had not affected business sentiment, although he said another three quarters were needed before any firm statements could be made about its impact.

The Printing Industry Trends Survey Report had 108 respondents: 35 from NSW, 29 from Victoria, 15 from Queensland, 12 from South Australia, 10 from Western Australia and five from Tasmania.

[LinkedIn: What have you done to become leaner?]

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