Alexandria, VA (Oct. 18, 2021) — All four sectors of the sign and graphics industry are looking slightly worse for 2021, but expected to rebound by 2022, according to the Sign Industry Quarterly Economic Report, produced by IHS Markit for the International Sign Association.
The report covers the third quarter of 2021 and was prepared in September. It is sponsored by the National Association of Sign Supply Distributors (NASSD). The report assesses four segments of the industry: two supplier markets (printing and electrical/digital signage) and two end markets (electric/digital signage and architectural signage). It also forecasts commodities.
Some highlights:
- While the latest update hasn’t resulted in significant shifts in any of the indices, all sectors are showing a slightly worse outlook for 2021 with slight improvements for most sectors in 2022. The end markets for architectural signage will show the largest cool-down from 2021 as it returns to historical trend levels of growth.
- Inflation for 2021 will top 4.2%. As prices of food, energy, and motor vehicles retreat with recovering supplies, and with long-run inflation expectations anchored near the Federal Reserve’s long-term 2% objective, IHS expects the consumer price index inflation to subside to 2.4% in 2022.
- The steel market is turning, and prices will move downward from here. However, there are policy decisions that could slow the pace of decline.
- With supply-side printing, the strong demand and the pandemic recovery remain the engine of growth behind this and next year’s strong industrial production. However, if supply chain issues remain troublesome through the first part of 2022, the outlook for growth may not be as strong as expected, but more extended in time.
The report is free for ISA, ISA Affiliated Association and NASSD members. Non-members may purchase it for $1,000 per quarterly forecast. This research can be accessed here.
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About International Sign Association
The International Sign Association (ISA) strives to be the leader in shaping and developing the sign, graphics, and visual communications community worldwide.
About NASSD
Founded more than 20 years ago, NASSD is a nonprofit trade association for companies and organizations engaged in the full-service wholesale distribution of sign and graphics products, and manufacturers of sign and graphic products, who distribute such products through sign and graphics distributors.
About the ISA Sign Industry Quarterly Economic Report
The ISA Sign Industry Quarterly Economic Report is designed to track current and future health of the on-premise sign industry with detailed market analysis by segment and industry. The ISA Sign Industry Quarterly Economic Report includes a custom market index approach, which presents a summary of forecast views of the business drivers. Users can track rapidly changing markets, respond to turning points and stay current with evolving business conditions. The ISA Sign Industry Quarterly Economic Report is compiled by IHS Markit on behalf of the International Sign Association.
