Another paper shortage? What the latest disruptions in supply mean for you (today.com)

In a result no one in publishing would have predicted last spring when Covid-19 first hit the U.S., book publishing sales finished 2020 flat with 2019 based on year-end figures supplied by 1,354 publishers to AAP’s StatShot program. The two major trade categories, adult books and children/young adult, had gains of 12% and 6.4%, respectively, while the two big educational segments saw declines. With many public schools teaching remotely for long stretches of last year, sales of K-12 instructional materials fell 19.6% in 2020 compared to 2019. Sales of higher educational course materials declined 4.3% last year as many colleges and university turned to hybrid instruction, which changed buying habits by students.

UPS announced fourth-quarter 2020 consolidated revenue of $24.9 billion, a 21.0% increase over the fourth quarter of 2019. Consolidated average daily volume increased 10.6% year over year. Operating profit was $2.2 billion, up 1.6% compared to last year’s fourth quarter, or 26.0% on an adjusted basis. Net loss was $3.3 billion for the quarter; adjusted net income was $2.3 billion or 26.4% above the same period last year. In the fourth quarter, diluted loss per share was $3.75, compared to a diluted loss per share of $0.12 in the fourth quarter of 2019.

Last week we issued an urgent appeal to help fund a suit we hope to file against the state of Massachusetts and its outrageous “cookie nexus” regulation. The full appeal is below, but in a nutshell, we can only file this action with your help. Some have already stepped up with pledges and we thank you for that. To all others, we need your help. This will become a national standard if not opposed. If you are with a high profile company, review our appeal below. Then please let us know we can count on you by clicking on the auto-reply email below. Also this week, the Boston Herald ran an article on the topic in case you missed it... Help Thwart Massachusetts’s Cookie Nexus Law Industry Must Fund Legal Challenge Or Face Consequences Dear Catalog & E-commerce Industry Members: Place a cookie or provide an app that is downloaded by a Massachusetts resident and you have just created a physical presence in the state, according to a new regulation being promulgated. The State Department of Revenue introduced this approach once before, only to have it struck down in court following an ACMA/NetChoice lawsuit. But after correcting the defects pointed out by us, MA is back with a new approach that flies in the face of both the Quill presence and the Internet Tax Freedom Act. This dangerous expansion of state powers will be quickly replicated elsewhere if uncontested. Recall how quickly the click-thru nexus laws expanded? New York promoted this new approach unopposed, which then spread to 20 other states almost overnight. Click Read More below for additional detail.