Key Data Overview

Despite the testing economic climate, the industry’s underlying financials are looking remarkably robust. Total industry turnover is sliding rather than plunging and profit margins are holding steady, but this is at the price of headcount reduction and ruthless cost control, where marketing budgets in particular have suffered.

Beneath the topline sales figures, the profile of how the different revenue streams are performing is rapidly changing. Online growth is clearly outstripping print revenue trends; circulation revenues are performing better than advertising sales; and subscription sales better than retail copy sales. “Other revenues” (which include reader offers, events & services, as well as contract publishing) are showing medium growth, behind online, but ahead of print revenue streams

Some publishers are looking for growth in overseas markets and most are relying on a growing dependence on online & digital revenues. Yet the level of online activity varies significantly from publisher to publisher.

Behind the turnover figures, the industry is essentially still in profit.