The Top 30 Book Manufacturers
Upton: So far in 2008, our sales have been running slightly ahead of 2007. However, I’m concerned that the increase we’ve seen in paper prices over the last 18 months will begin to affect our sales as the year progresses. … I did hear some good news in early May, when John Maine of RISI [a publisher targeting the forest-products industry] addressed the Spring Management Conference of the Book Manufacturers’ Institute. John predicted that prices for uncoated free sheets (offset papers) would stabilize in the second half of this year, due to a softening of worldwide demand. If things work out as John predicts (and they often do), it would provide some welcome relief to the U.S. book industry.
Matt Steinmetz is the publisher and brand director of Publishing Executive.