Direct-Mail Spending Down in 2008 and Still Falling

Industry Growth/decline in direct-mail volume
Telecommunications 9.6%
Insurance 4.6%
Banking -1.3%
Investments -4.2%
Travel/Leisure -4.7%
Automotive -9.4%
Technology -16.6%
Credit Cards -21.8%
Mortgage and Loans -38.8%
Source: Mintel Comperemedia

Changing, not dying
"Direct mail is not dead or even dying," said Mr. Margulies. "The nature of how people use it is changing fundamentally. And over the long term the dollars and volumes may never come back to the levels we had over the last few years, but there will be sustained and increased marketer attention in the things direct-mail media can do."