According to the Photizo Group, the sales of inkjet printers in North America has dropped 12% from 2010 to 2011.  That represents a decline in total sales from 13.1 million units to 11.56 million units.  The number of pages printed in the home has also declined 15% since 2009.

HP reports a 4% decline in net revenue in its fiscal year 2011, which the company attributes to a weak consumer demand.  Several other factors drive the slow printing market.  One is age group.  People in the 18-24 age group tend to print less, as they rely heavily on smart phones, while people in the 54 and above age group tend to print more, due in part to habit and eyesight, since they have a hard time viewing data in smaller devices.  Wireless connection also allows for more users in the home to connect to just one printer.  Social media allows us to see pictures quicker than having to print them.

On the other hand, retail printing is lucrative.  Shutterfly reports a 60% growth rate in net revenue.  Their personalized products such as T-shirts, mugs, etc are growing at a rate of 72%.

There is still a need for printing.  Nobody can truly say that printing is gone.  There are still industries out there that rely heavily on printing.  But we also have to admit that the industry is not as strong as it used to be.