The Stationery Market was worth an estimated 2.24bn at manufacturers' selling prices (msp) in 2002 but a difficult economic environment is expected in 2003, with gradual improvement from 2004.

The apparent market for stationery was worth an estimated 2.24bn at manufacturers' selling prices (msp) in 2002, with overall sales remaining static. For the future, a difficult economic environment in 2003 is forecast, with gradual improvement from 2004.

Research and Markets have announced the addition of the "Stationery (PRWEB) September 24, 2003

The apparent market for stationery was worth an estimated 2.24bn at manufacturers' selling prices (msp) in 2002, with overall sales remaining static.

This market includes products for office, home and educational use, but excludes greetings cards and calendars. 77.7% of the market is made up of products made principally from paper and board, including, for example, envelopes, cut paper, continuous business forms and files and folders. The remaining 22.3% of the market is made up of writing instruments, desktop items and other miscellaneous stationery items.

Weaker economic growth in 2001 and falling business confidence in the wake of the US terrorist attacks on 11th September combined with intense price pressure from imports in many sectors. Some stationery suppliers reported an improvement in 2002, but price pressure remained strong.

Paper prices have been depressed and appear to have reached a minimum cost during 2002. This has affected all of the paper stationery sectors to some extent.

The generalised use of computers, page printers, e-mail and electronic trading has had its effect on the stationery market, but this has not been to reduce the overall demand for paper. Rather, the types of products needed have changed and some traditional stationery products are moving towards obsolescence.

The volume of direct mail continues to grow, although this market is more mature in the UK than elsewhere in Europe. This trend is particularly helpful to the bespoke envelopes and business forms sectors and to label sales.

Consumer spending has continued to grow. Christmas gift spending was strong in 2001 and remained at around the same level in 2002, and stationery items benefited from some of this spending.

For the future, we expect a difficult economic environment in 2003, with gradual improvement from 2004. There will be continued pressure from imports, but prices of raw materials are likely to rise. We forecast gradual growth for the stationery market in current price terms to 2007, but a slight fall in 2003 in constant price terms.

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REPORT DATA SUMMARY:
Stationery (Personal & Office) Market Report 2003
Category: Consumer & Personal
URL: www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/36338

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