Date: Wed, 12 Apr 1995 10:53:53 -0500
From: Amy Jackson <AYS@EBSCO.COM>
Subject: PRESS RELEASE APRIL 12, 1995
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FROM Laura Ralstin, Communications Coordinator
EBSCO Subscription Services
1996 Global Serial Price Projections Update
EBSCO has released updated projections for 1996 serials prices and
included projections for libraries in several countries. Projecting increases
is still difficult at this time of year as many yet-undetermined factors will
affect journal prices, including: page increases, volume expansion,
subscription cancellations, basic inflation, and currency exchange rates in
effect at the time prices are set or publishers are paid for 1996
subscriptions.
EBSCO continually communicates with major publishers regarding
projected price increases, and updated projections will be provided later in
the year when publishers have enough information regarding these factors
to make their own projections for 1996 subscription prices.
At this time EBSCO is projecting a base increase of 10 -11 percent for
1996 journal subscription prices. Projected increases for libraries and
organizations invoiced in various currencies are listed below. For U.S.
journals, projections are based on estimated subscription price increases
and the relative value of the customer billing currency (footnote 1)
compared to the U.S. dollar. For European journals, projections are based
on estimated subscription price increases and the relative value of the
customer billing currency compared to that of a European currency
composite(footnote 2).Ranges shown are for European journals published
outside the corresponding country for each billing currency (e.g., the
projected increase for customers invoiced in pounds does not apply to U.K.
journals).
*Price Increase Factors*
Two factors which will have a key effect on some journal prices this year
include significant increases in the cost of white, non-recycled paper and
U.S. postage rates. These factors are in addition to page number and
volume expansion, cancellations, basic inflation, etc. Ultimate price
increases will also depend on the value of the currency in which
subscribers are invoiced as compared to the currency in which journals are
priced when publishers are paid for 1996 subscriptions.
*Conservative budgeting*
As always, EBSCO recommends all customers add 3 to 5 percent to the
estimated price increases for all journals to protect their budgets from a
weakening of the currency in which they are invoiced between now and
when subscription rates are set or publishers are paid.
*More information available*
Journal cost history by library type (e.g., academic, academic medical,
corporate, special, law school, law firm, public and hospital) for the years
1991-1995, along with updated price projections, will be available in the
upcoming publication Serial Price Projections: 1996, published by EBSCO.
PROJECTED PRICE INCREASES BY CUSTOMER BILLING
CURRENCY
Customer Projected Projected
Billing Increase for Increase for
Currency U.S. Journals European
Journals
______________________________________________________________
Australian dollar 13.5 - 15.5% 17.5 - 19.5%
British pound 8.5 - 10.5% 13.5 - 15.5%
Canadian dollar 11.5 - 13.5% 15.5 - 17.5%
Dutch guilder 0 - 2.5% 7.0 - 8.0%
French franc 2.5 - 4.5% 9.0 - 11.0%
German mark 0 - 2.5% 7.0 - 8.0%
Italian lira 15.5 - 17.5% 21.5 - 25.5%
Japanese yen .5 - <1.5<% 5.5 - 7.5%
New Zealand dollar 5.5 - 8.5% 11.0 -13.0%
South African rand 11.5 - 12.5% 16.5 - 18.5%
Spanish peseta 8.5 - 10.5% 14.5 - 16.5%
Turkish lira 14.5 - 16.5% 16.5 -18.5%
U.S. dollar 10 - 11% 13.0 - 15.0%*
(*footnote 3)
20.0 - 22.0%*
(*footnote 4)
(Footnote 1) Late-March currency exchange rates were used for these
projections.
(Footnote 2) The European currency composite is the average value of the
British pound, French franc, German mark, Dutch guilder and Swiss franc.
(Footnote 3) For European journals priced in country of origin currency.
(Footnote 4) For European journals priced in U.S. dollars or with fixed
conversion rates -- this rate is most applicable to U.S. libraries, as most
major European publishers now set prices in U.S. dollars for U.S.
customers instead of pricing in native currencies. These rates are generally
set in mid to late summer. One component of U.S. dollar rates is the
strength of the U.S. dollar as compared to publishers' native currencies at
the time these rates are set, so it is difficult to predict the eventual price o
f
such journals this early in the year. Journals priced with variable rates will
be affected by the strength of the U.S. dollar in early fall when publishers
are paid for these journals.
###
