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Libey Incorporated
Economic Outlook
Secrets of the Catalog Master
Vol. MMV No. 2 March 2005
(Continued--page 3)
The Second Quarter 2005 Regional Economic Outlook
The first quarter 2005 performance was good. The fourth quarter 2004 economic performance was a revised upwards and the first quarter 2005 has continued to be quite positive given the sharp increase in oil prices. The majority of business-to-business direct marketers and most consumer direct marketers made their numbers and the year continues to look positive.
After seeing the strength in the first quarter, we believe that marketers should pursue prospecting and customer contacts more aggressively than we recommended in January. We remain positive for the second quarter 2005. All regions are benefiting from the strengthening of the economy and the outlook is measurably improved for the first half of 2005.
Region
One (CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT)
Region Two (NY, NJ, CT, PR, VI)
Region Three (PA, NJ, DE)
Region Four (OH, KY, PA, WV)
Region Five (KY, MD, TN, VA, NC, SC)
Region Six (GA, AL, FL, LA, MS, TN)
Region Seven (IL, IN, MI, WI, IA)
Region Eight (MO, IL, IN, KY, TN, LA, AR)
Region Nine (MN, WI, ND, SD, MT, MI)
Region Ten (KS, CO, MO, NE, NM, OK, WY)
Region Eleven (TX, LA, NM)
Region Twelve (CA, UT, AZ, NM, OR, WA)
Mixed to Slower
None
The Second Quarter 2005 Circulation Outlook and
Recommendations
Synopsis
TThe short-term economic outlook for the catalog industry has improved and continues to be positive through the first half of 2005. The previous slight slowness seems to have disappeared and the economy is more robust since January. The intermediate-term outlook is positive for the balance of 2005, and the long-term outlook through 2007 remains positive. Our outlook for growth in the second quarter of 2005 is revised upward to 5 percent.
Nation At A Glance
The detailed economic conditions for each state have been integrated into the following recommendations. Changes to circulation recommendations through the Second Quarter 2005 are highlighted in bold italics. A number changes are recommended for the second quarter, all shifts from Normal to Increased mailing.
