Periodical prices, 1990–1992

Library Acquisifions: Practice & Theory, Vol. 17, pp. 3-19, 1993 Printed in the USA. All rights reserved.

0364~6408193 S6.00 + .OO Copyright 0 1993 Pergatnon Press Ltd.

PERIODICAL PRICES, 1990-1992

ADRIAN W. ALEXANDER

Region Manager

The Faxon Company

Westwood, MA 02090

This annual comparative periodical price study is the nineteenth in a continuous series of studies compiled and published by the Faxon Company since 1974. The price reviews in this series compare serial prices and identify price changes, patterns, and trends over the most recent three-year time period. The purpose of these analytical price studies is to provide current and historical price data for use in planning and developing library serials budgets for both domestic and non-U.S. source serialized titles.

This periodical pricing study series previously appeared from 1974 to 1980 in Library Jour- nal and, from 1981 to 1990, in The Serials Librarian. The 1991 price study appeared in Li- brary Acquisitions: Practice & Theory [ 11. The price study analyzes and measures the average and weighted prices for both prepaid and bill-later serial titles included in the global Faxon title database, which contains bibliographic records for over 200,000 serials titles. Average prices are based on all active titles in the Faxon database within a given category. Weighted prices included in this review reflect the order activities of Faxon’s 25,000+ client base in the United States and are included in order to provide comparison to the overall average price, which may be affected by the inclusion of inordinately expensive or inexpensive, but seldom- ordered titles. Similarly, the latest reviews in this series reflect the fact that the bulk of orders placed by Faxon increasingly are for academic and other research libraries in the United States.

The global nature of the data sources used in this study may not always be related to the specific serials ordering activity of any one library. Care should therefore be exercised in using the pricing information presented in this series to project future budget requirements a particular library. Each individual library’s title list and serials budget is designed to conform to the needs and resources of that institution. These institutional requirements will not always match the more generalized results represented in the tables included in this compilation. Fac- tors such as the ratio of domestic to non-U.S. published titles, the nature and orientation of the subject disciplines reflect in the title list, and the influence of multiple-year subscription pricing discounts are potentially influential in calculating the serials pricing climate for any specific library situation.

Average and weighted prices shown in the tables that follow reflect the publishers’ list price and do not include additional service charges for value-added subscription management services from Faxon. Titles that have experienced ordering activity for each of the three years represented in the study are included in the compilation. Weighted price averages distribute different values to individual categories of periodicals and serials, based on the relative number of Faxon orders for each of the three years covered by the study. Thus, if a specific title

3

4 A. W. ALEXANDER

has no order activity in the Faxon database for a particular year, this title is not represented in the weighted pricing information.

TABLE EXPLANATIONS AND COMMENTARY

Table I, arranged according to the initial two-letter Library of Congress classification code, compares the average and weighted price changes of 59 selected subject categories and subcategories for the three-year period of study. Four subject areas experienced increases of average prices for 1992 of 20 percent or more over 1991 prices. By comparison, ten subject areas in 1991 had average price increases of 20 percent or more over 1990 prices.

Bibliography and Library Science (Z) posted the highest increase at 37.7%, marking the second consecutive year over 20%. Home Economics (TX) increased by 30.3%, Therapeutics (RM) by 20.7%) and Economic History and Conditions by 20.1% over 1991 average prices. Additionally, four other subject areas increased in average price by between 10 and 20 percent. These included Recreation (GV), Fine Arts (N), Chemistry (QD), and General & Civil Engineering (TA). Of the ten subject areas that posted 1991 increases in average price of 20 percent or more, all but one (Class Z), declined significantly in 1992. The most dramatic drops in rate of increase were in Geography-General (G), Law (K), and Motor Vehicles/ Aeronautics (TL).

The category with the highest average price was Chemistry (QD) once again, at $828.08, followed by Physics (QC)-$569.41, Physiology (QP)-$517.41, Science (Q)-$424.05, and Microbiology (QR)-$414.31. Additionally, nine other categories had average prices of $300.00 or more: Finance (HG), Mathematics (QA), Astronomy (QB), Natural History (QH), Therapeutics/Pharmacology (RM), General & Civil Engineering (TA), Mechanical Engineer- ing & Machinery (TJ), Electrical Engineering/Nuclear Engineering (TK), and Bibliography & Library Science (Z).

No subject areas posted increases in weighted price for 1992 of 20 percent or more over 1991 weighted prices, as compared with eight such categories in 1991. The highest rate of increase in weighted prices was 15.9% for Home Economics (TX). Only five other categories increased more than 10 percent: Zoology (QL)-12.9%, Physics (QC)-12.0%, Motor Vehicles/ Aeronautics (TL)-1 1.6%, Chemical Technology (TP)-1 1.5070, and Surgery (RD)-10.4%. Of the eight subject areas that experienced increases of 20 percent or more in 1991, only Phys- ics and Chemical Technology exceeded 10 percent in 1992.

The highest weighted price for 1992 was in Chemistry (QD) at $1,046.64, marking the first time in the history of this study that either an average or weighted price exceeded $1,080. Once again, Physics (QC) posted the second highest price at $881.81, followed by Physiology (QP) at $620.19, Science-General (Q) at $491.58, and Natural History (QH) at $468.88. Addition- ally, seven other categories had weighted prices of $300.00 or more: Astronomy (QB), Geol- ogy (QE), Botany (QK), Zoology (QL), Microbiology (QR), General and Civil Engineering (TA), and Chemical Technology (TP).

Table 2, using the same format as Table 1, presents average and weighted prices and percent changes arranged by country of publication and includes those countries with 20 or more titles on file in the Faxon database. Categories in this table are based on country of publication designations defined in the USMARC standard.

The average 1992 price of titles published in the United States was $179.22, representing a 6.3% increase over the 1991 average price of $168.54. The weighted price of U.S. titles in 1992 was $182.02, which was 8.7% higher than the 1991 weighted price of $167.45.

Among key non-U.S. publishing countries, the Netherlands once again posted the high-

LC

AN AP

B BF BX D

DS E F 0

GV H

HB HC HD HE HF HG HJ HM HQ HV

J K L

LB N P

PN

Q QA OB QC QD QE QH QK QL QP OR

R RA RC RD RK RM RT s

SB SF T

TA TJ TK TL TP TS TX i!

TABLE 1A PRICE COMPARISON BY SELECTED LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

CLASSIFICATION-AVERAGE 1 -YEAR PRICE

cLAs9mcATloN 1990 1991 1982 1990 1091 1992 90191 91192

Newspapers 1934 2833 3016

Periodicals-General 723 861 832

Phlloscphy-General 1649 1991 1998

Psychology 298 378 385

Denominatfons LL Sects 428 498 500

History-General 8 Old World 1068 1300 1289

History-Asia 337 409 421

History-America, General 257 317 318

History-America 748 940 926

Geography-General 1113 1376 1404

Recreation 588 743 781

Sccfal S&nces-General 6275 8264 8418

Economics 221 288 283

Economic History 6 Conditions 828 728 709

Land, Agricutture & Industry 1325 1789 1744

Transportation (L Communications 444 810 855

Commerce 1146 1580 1551

Finance 973 1391 1512

Public Finance 103 140 148

Sociology-General 159 194 194

Social Groups 250 339 347

Social & Public Welfare: Criminology 450 588 571

Political Science 675 822 833

Law 1412 1671 1920

Education-General 1036 1298 1310

Theory 8 Practice of Education 482 617 840

Fine Arts-Visual Arts 653 944 935

Philology 6 Llnguistfcs 1707 2135 2125

Literature History 6 Collections-Gen, 879 842 834

ScfenceGe&l 4895 8181 8180

Mathematics 911 1282 1267

Astronomy 113 129 130

Physics 927 1155 1138

Chemistry 585 898 700

GeoksV 278 334 331

Natural History 577 746 805

Botany 190 225 220

aobgy 383 430 420

Physioklgy 362 437 422

Microbiobgy 188 208 200

Medfcfne-General 4199 5292 5401

Public Aspects of Medicine 497 718 708

Internal Medffine 1221 1442 1402

Surgery 300 351 349

Dentistry 198 241 245

Therapeutics. Pharmecolcgy 323 431 483

Nursing 198 236 245

Agriculture-General 1465 1801 1828

Plant Culture 410 515 510

Animal Cukure 409 505 519

Technotogy-General 5011 6859 6969

General 6 Civil Engineering 559 752 743

Mechanical Engin&ing a-Machinery 410 499 484

Electrical Enp. Nuclear Eng. 755 1204 1257

h4otor Vehick. Aeronautics 379 486 482 Chemical Technology 714 910 909 Manufactures 457 644 843 Home Economics 252 332 382 Bibliography 6 Library Science 1211 1414 1413

No.oFPlwxonTLE6 AVEPAGE l-Y!CARPFKE KGWNGEXCHANGE

154.03 148.30 153.96 -5.0% 5.2%

75.81 78.30 82.44 3.3% 5.3%

49.19 48.90 52.52 -0.6% 7.4%

104.89 105.81 112.40 0.7% 6.4%

30.27 29.88 31.93 -2.0% 7.7%

74.15 75.33 77.25 1.6% 2.5%

70.51 76.43 77.58 8.4% 1.5%

43.28 41.91 42.70 -3.2% 1.9%

35.52 35.32 38.40 -0.6% 3.1%

83.78 77.40 78.63 21.4% 1.6%

37.79 45.09 49.78 19.3% 10.4%

178.83 200.09 213.28 13.3% 8.8%

144.04 155.25 188.08 7.8% 8.3%

152.75 159.92 192.05 4.7% 20.1%

160.76 191.71 194.35 19.3% 1.4%

149.73 180.07 190.82 20.3% 6.0%

170.52 213.77 222.82 25.4% 4.1%

387.11 373.42 400.99 1.7% 7.4%

180.04 208.48 205.32 14.7% -0.6%

110.26 109.25 105.07 -0.9% -3.8%

63.85 88.31 68.37 7.0% -2.8%

102.72 106.49 105.22 3.7% -1.2%

108.98 118.35 121.10 6.6% 2.3%

132.65 188.31 188.81 25.4% 1.5%

63.73 86.71 70.97 4.7% 6.4%

65.50 87.55 71.97 3.1% 6.5%

67.48 73.07 85.09 8.3% 16.4%

48.00 49.37 52.78 2.9% 6.9%

49.99 51.94 55.43 3.9% 6.7%

333.75 393.41 424.05 17.9% 7.8%

303.70 329.20 338.83 8.4% 2.3%

234.78 273.51 300.50 18.5% 9.9%

420.14 519.50 569.41 23.6% 9.6%

618.78 742.72 828.08 20.4% 11.5%

208.22 232.51 254.05 11.7% 9.3%

287.80 324.85 329.03 12.8% 1.3%

184.84 182.40 198.02 10.7% 7.5%

148.42 182.80 184.41 11.1% 1.1%

016.44 490.96 517.41 17.9% 5.4%

339.51 378.92 414.31 11.8% 9.3%

181.26 188.23 198.84 15.5% 5.6%

148.15 157.44 170.72 7.7% 8.4%

170.37 187.93 195.48 10.3% 4.0%

143.80 157.37 168.05 9.8% 6.8%

71.67 79.08 81.96 10.0% 3.7%

227.87 249.22 300.73 9.4% 20.7%

83.82 69.18 69.86 8.4% 1.0%

81.98 89.27 95.50 8.9% 7.0%

87.97 92.35 97.01 5.0% 5.0%

79.62 66.86 91,93 11.6% 3.5%

198.19 232.21 253.65 17.2% 9.2%

229.23 278.27 306.50 21.4% 10.1%

268.88 313.96 335.80 17.7% 8.9%

254.78 300.40 318.76 17.9% 6.1%

130.15 172.58 175.25 32.6% 1.5%

HO.23 249.26 288.40 18.6% 7.7%

120.87 148.48 159.87 22.6% 7.7%

97.72 105.89 137.68 8.2% 30.3%

167.38 225.52 310.53 20.4% 37.7%

TABLE 1B PRICE COMPARISON BY SELECTED LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

CLASSIFICATION-WEIGHTED PRICE w33HlEopFKT %CHANCE %CHANGE

LC

AN AP

B BF BX D

DS E F

'G GV

H HB HC HD HE HF HG HJ HM HQ HV

J K L

LB N P

PN

0 GA QB QC OD GE QH OK QL QP QR

R RA RC RD RK RM RT s

SB SF T TA TJ TK TL TP TS TX 2

aA3slFlcATloN

NWSppWS PeriiiGeneral PhibeophyGeneral

Psyohokov Denominations 6 Sects History-General d Old World History-Asia History-America. General History-America GeographyGeneral Recreation Social Sciences-General Economics Economic History 6 Conditions Land, Agricriculture 6 Industry Transportation & Communications Commerce Finanw Pubic Finance Sociology-General SociiGroups So&l 8 Public Welfare: Criminology Politbal!3cbrKm Law EducationGeneral Theory LL Practice of Educatbn Fine Arts-Visual Arts Philology (L Linguistbs Literature History 6 CollectbnsGen.

SdenceGeneral Mathematbs Astronomy Physics Chemistry

GeobgY Natural History Botany

Zookov Physbbgy Mbrobbbgy Medbinffieneral Public Aspects ol Mediine Internal Mediine

Surgery Dentistry Therapeutbs. Pharmambgy Numing Agriculture-General Plant Culture Animal Culture Technobgy-General General 6 Ciuil Engineering Meohanical Engineering b. Machinery Ebctrbal Eng. Nuclear Eng. Motor Vehbles. Aemnautice Chemical Technology Manufactures Home Emnombs Biblbgraphy 6 Library Science

t990 1991 1992 QOlQl

164.36 179.21 190.25

201.76 213.47 220.10

9.0%

5.8% 59.42 61.93 64.69 4.2% 96.17 99.65 105.69 1.5%

146.59 154.77 163.67 5.6% 40.71 33.94 36.02 -16.6% 67.05 63.96 66.64 -3.5% 75.59 73.50 75.50 -2.6% 54.69 53.09 52.23 -2.9% 51.51 47.30 45.98 -6.2% 86.22 101.76 107.61 15.3% 54.39 56.46 62.32 7.5%

137.19 150.39 152.26 9.6% 133.20 142.55 157.40 7.0% 127.17 139.65 146.76 10.0% 136.62 156.09 161.02 15.7% 134.46 149.66 162.04 11.3% 106.72 120.46 120.59 12.9% 244.47 266.05 291.36 6.8% 148.93 169.16 154.61 13.6% 132.50 139.06 128.33 5.0% 103.16 113.66 104.07 10.2% 126.33 134.63 127.61 6.6% 130.97 145.20 126.13 10.9% 67.42 106.17 103.85 21.4% 76.75 82.15 80.12 7.0% 75.06 76.24 77.95 4.2% 73.52 79.02 63.60 7.5% 56.70 54.90 57.95 -3.2% 53.86 54.17 57.52 0.6%

390.32 457.41 491.58 17.2% 229.19 246.74 257.46 8.5% 290.21 335.74 350.03 15.7% 650.96 767.03 aat.at 20.9% 766.38 953.56 1 1046.64 21.3% 251.62 292.58 319.87 16.3% 410.64 457.14 468.88 11.3% 224.11 265.73 308.26 27.5% 231.74 270.61 305.57 16.6% 490.06 561.24 620.19 16.6% 378.81 436.76 465.33 15.8% 149.45 166.94 181.14 13.0% 143.57 155.91 169.97 6.6% 160.45 180.76 194.74 12.7% 128.32 145.08 160.24 13.1% 101.15 114.75 120.57 13.4% 211.10 261.72 273.30 24.0% 73.06 62.51 64.37 12.9% 119.93 129.73 137.37 6.2% 131.31 134.53 141.67 2.5% 109.74 121.24 127.66 10.5% 166.20 225.33 236.57 21.0% 296.96 365.54 395.62 22.3% 236.77 271.44 296.51 13.7% 194.58 222.36 237.47 14.3% 130.62 149.56 166.86 14.5% 231.42 316.99 355.66 37.6% 106.69 127.22 130.76 19.0% 61.60 91.07 105.56 11.3%

91192

3.1%

6.2%

4.6% 6.3% 5.9% 6.1% 3.2% 2.7% -1.6% -2.8% 5.7% 6.6% 1.2%

10.4% 5.0% 1.9% 6.3% 0.1% 9.5% -6.5% -7.7% -6.4% -5.2%

-13.1% -2.2% -2.5% -0.4% 6.0% 5.6% 6.2%

7.5% 3.5% 4.3% 12.0% 9.6% 9.3% 2.6% 7.9% 12.9% 6.7% 6.1% 7.2% 9.0% 7.7% 10.4% 5.1% 4.4% 2.3% 5.9% 5.3% 5.3% 5.9% 8.2% 9.2% 6.6% 11.6% 11.5% 2.6% 15.9%

6

TABLE 2A PRICE COMPARISON BY COUNTRY OF PUBLICATION-

AVERAGE l-YEAR PRICE

SAci U-AT E-AU EBE A-BG BBL E-BU NCN S-CL SCK NxFf !XS ECK FJJA EGW E-FI EFB EGE EUQ A-HK E+u A-II A-IO M A-IS Err NWJM A-JA fXE A-LE E-LU

A-MY N-MK E-NE U-N2 FNB E-NO A-PK A-CC SPE A-PH E-PL E-KI EIW A-SI F-SA A-K0 EUFt ESP A-GE ESW E52 A-CH A-TH A-TU E-W N-US S-VE EYU FM-i

CaJNrRYoF Pm.KxTm

Argentina Australia Austria Belgium Bangfadesh Brazil Bulgaria Call& Chits Cobmbia Costa Rica Czechosbvakia

EwPt Fed. Republic Gennanv Finland France German Dem. Ropubfii GnWW Hong Kong

Hungary India Indonesia IrOland IWael Italy Jamaica

Japryl Kenya Lebanon Luxembourg

Malaysia Mexico

Netherlands New Zealand Nigeria Norway Pakistan Peoplel Rep. China Peru Philliplnes Poland Portugal Romania Singapore South Africa South Korea Soviet Union

spain Sri Lanka Sweden Swftxerfand Tawain Thailand Turkey United Kingdom United States Venezuela Yugoslavia Zimbabwe

NO. OF PFtiC5D TfllES AMRAQE I-YEAR PRCE % CHANDE %CHAME

1990 1991 1992 1990 1991 1992 so/91 91192

154 157 154 771 047 884 188 201 204 440 447 441

22 23 24 159 180 155

85 82 81 3144 3208 3190

88 85 88 99 103 102 30 31 30

243 249 241 182 200 197

31 32 32 2085 2434 2388

88 83 84 2452 2471 2218

342 - - 48 53 55

170 188 184 179 178 174

1077 1091 1093 22 22 24 93 92 93

158 157 158 1097 1130 1117

31 33 35 1287 1319 1328

53 81 81 20 21 21 89 91 81

58 83 88 231 242 239

1238 1324 1350 171 187 185

47 59 59 125 123 128

77 83 82 282 284 310

48 52 54 98 100 100

302 301 295 51 53 54

159 157 158 84 101 108

243 246 252 82 88 70

855 892 903 483 493 493

28 29 29 313 308 291 758 781 779 105 99 103

50 54 55 32 35 38

7051 7522 7800 10453 42259 42818

48 54 52 184 159 157

27 31 30

-4.5% 8.0% 7.5% 5.8%

39.1% 4.9% 4.7% 7.3% 1.5% 33.7%

-0.1% 5.2% 7.8% 8.8% 1.2% 3.1%

-4.8% 8.5% -5.8% 2.8%

22.9% 3.8% -2.4% 7.5% 3.3% 20.8% 4.7% -10.3%

-2.4% 2.5% 0.2% 0.7%

-0.2% 7.1%

107.48 102.82 110.87 77.35 83.18 87.80 94.08 130.82 137.20 70.18 73.47 78.87 47.28 47.98 84.15

121.34 121.21 127.48 43.84 47.03 50.21 77.93 78.87 81.30

100.85 95.97 102.22 79.98 75.51 77.88 92.89 113.95 118.05 97.89 95.52 102.88

138.05 142.84 172.24 85.14 88.23 81.20

185.23 180.77 185.29 73.88 73.82 74.31

133.85 133.38 142.88 92.49 - - 90.10 98.04 97.08

177.18 178.91 195.38 39.89 44.98 47.51 47.34 49.13 49.85 89.30 77.89 74.40 87.28 122.35 134.40 74.98 84.54 88.41 90.70 94.38 100.85 37.27 35.84 39.11

199.15 209.83 218.03 82.18 71.97 91.05

228.47 243.02 247.30 108.04 127.88 138.58

141.33 128.13 128.41 83.73 75.21 63.73

387.74 481.07 507.14 87.31 88.14 87.33 74.87 81.91 88.47 81.28 88.08 115.08 52.91 52.45 53.31

170.42 190.29 194.31 78.01 79.81 89.85 48.09 55.21 55.02 87.89 72.20 77.07 51.88 55.08 57.88 85.82 91.50 92.71

184.70 171.37 159.98 81.25 81.38 77.24 52.71 54.89 57.13 71.12 97.59 128.48 77.48 81.79 94.18 88.72 70.10 58.94 84.03 83.32 94.01

221.49 288.84 282.73 94.44 102.09 102.54 59.13 81.35 72.00

133.30 142.10 173.11

8.8% -0.2% 13.3%

3.8% -12.8% 40.2% 12.8%

4.1% -4.4% 5.4%

-12.4% 8.4%

18.3% -9.3% 18.0% 18.9%

1.2% -17.3%

8.4% -0.9% 1 1 .7%

2.1% 14.8%

8.7% 8.1% 8.9% 4.0% 0.2% 4.1%

37.2% 5.8% 5.1%

-0.8% 21.4%

8.1% 3.8% 8.8%

1.1% 10.4%

5.8% 1.1%

-4.5% 9.8% 4.8% 8.8% 9.7% 3.9%

28.5% 1.8% 8.8% -1.3% 11.3% 10.0% -1.2% 10.8% 30.7%

1.8% 2.1%

12.9% -0.3% 8.7% 4.7% 1.3%

-8.7% -5.1% 4.1%

31.8% 15.1%

-15.9% 128%

5.2% 0.4%

17.4% 21.8%

258.33 277.97 304.28 7.8% 9.5% 158.70 188.54 179.22 8.1% 8.3% 121.45 120.34 103.82 -0.9% -13.7%

84.89 103.48 114.93 22.2% 11.1% 51.71 58.57 82.25 13.3% 8.3%

NOTE: Countries chosen for the table have 20 or more titles on file.

7

TABLE 2B PRICE COMPARISON BY COUNTRY OF PUBLICATION-

WEIGHTED PRICE

COD5

SAci U-AT E-AU EBE A-ffi S-BL E-BU NCN SCL S-CK &CR H;s EDK FUA EGW EFI Em EGE m A-HK E+kJ A-II A-IO E-lE A-IS E-lT hMlJM AJA FKE A-LE EUJ

A-MY N-MX &NE UNZ FNR EN0 A-PK ACC SPE A-PH E-PL w EM A-54 F-SA A-K0 HIR ESP ACE E-SW ESZ A-CH A-TH A-TU E-M N-US S-VE EYU FFtH

axMFtYff

PuauanDN

Argentina Australia Austria Belgkrm Bangladesh Braxil Bulgaria

Chile Cotombia Costa Ri Czechostovakia

Egypt Fed. Repubtic Germany Rnland Fram German Dem. Republic G-

Hong Kong Hungary lndii lndonesta Ireland ISmel Italy Jamaica

Japan Kenya Lebanon Luxembourg

Malaysia Mexico Netherlands New Zealand Niieria Norway Pakistan People’s Rep. China Peru Phillipines Poland Portugal Romania Singapore South Africa South Korea Soviet Union

Spain Sri Lanka Sweden Switzerland Tawain Thailand Turkey United Kingdom United States Venezuela Yugoslavia Zimbabwe

WEIGHTED PRICE

1990 1991 1992 so/91

77.60

68.34

522.40

64.40

66.94

126.50

48.36

76.96

57.92

79.93

49.64

197.38

257.16

130.96

453.82

115.10

149.78

83.93

83.45

449.02

86.37

69.38

115.55

44.81

83.07

51.08

100.83

55.27

230.10

240.18

201.55

424.28

113.54

144.83

21e.po

229.01

215.42

60.44

65.77

96.26

60.84

86.72

127.48

36.50

209.14

109.92

392.65

146.73

65.00

60.32

524.56

117.45

97.40

142.60

47.52

164.49

70.10

33.38

72.31

64.67

127.97

166.47

42.76

56.66

63.61

97.72

29.06

145.51

365.66

81.12

49.89

232.52

265.91

153.34

95.59

58.38

50.60

204.40 139.65 -10.7% -31.7%

200.43 219.65 -7.0% 9.7%

97.62 109.31 10.6% 11.7%

73.03 72.94 11.0% -0.1%

66.57 72.40 -9.9% -16.3%

331.97 370.79 310.7% 11.7%

98.94 67.54 9.3% -9.7%

148.05 141.45 14.8% -3.1%

32.22 37.39 -16.3% 18.0%

221.82 234.51 6.1% 5.7%

101.07 104.96 -8.1% 3.6%

431.72 473.76 10.0% 9.7%

167.02 205.27 25.7% 9.6%

70.87 66.04 9.0% -8.6%

102.78 104.66 27.9% 2.1%

712.21 785.67 35.8% 10.3%

96.66 106.69 -17.7% 12.7%

62.16 60.24 -36.2% 29.0%

136.47 159.61 -3.0% 15.3%

46.61 49.00 2.3% 0.6%

172.77 168.41 5.0% 9.1%

75.29 89.34 7.4% 16.7%

35.24 36.17 5.6% 2.6%

63.04 87.67 14.6% 5.6%

54.67 67.32 -15.7% 23.1%

136.96 132.40 8.6% -4.7%

254.05 318.23 52.6% 25.3%

50.26 50.46 17.5% 0.4%

57.12 83.81 -2.6% 11.7%

61.37 126.94 27.5% 56.0%

115.53 140.47 16.2% 21.6%

38.98 32.66 34.1% -15.8%

182.68 182.79 11.8% 12.4%

516.42 545.03 34.4% 5.1%

70.64 68.24 -12.9% -3.4%

66.37 91.62 37.0% 34.3%

247.33 279.46 6.4% 13.0%

313.39 335.65 9.6% 7.2%

187.45 162.02 9.2% 6.7%

82.21 72.26 -14.0% -12.1%

66.55 72.57 14.0% 9.0%

67.55 66.12 33.6% 27.5%

66.37

69.89

554.86

94.40

79.37

133.52

51.37

65.50

87.40

95.03

51.73

220.76

290.48

66.32

480.12

115.88

169.54

XCWNCX

-7.3%

5.9%

16.3%

-2.3%

-0.6%

11.2%

3.5%

-7.3%

-5.2%

-20.7%

.11.8%

-14.2%

7.1%

-35.1%

6.9%

1.4%

3.6%

%CLMNGE

91192

13.6%

1.6%

6.2%

11.8%

15.1%

3.9%

10.8%

11.1%

16.4%

18.9%

4.2%

11.9%

13.0%

-49.4%

1.4%

0.7%

13.2%

NOTE: Countries chosen for the table have 20 or more tkles on file.

8

Pekdical Prices, i!BO-1992 9

est prices in 1992, with an average price of $507.14 (an increase of 10.0% over 1991), and a weighted price of $785.67 (an increase of 10.3% over 1991). Titles published in Switzerland had an average price of $282.73 (5.2% increase), and a weighted price of $545.03 (5.1% increase), while German titles posted an average price of $185.29 (2.5% increase} and a weighted price of $460.12 (1.4% increase). British titles, however, increased in average price by 9.Wo to $304.28, and by 7.2% in weighted price to $335.85.

Other important publishing countries include the former Soviet Union, where prices in-

TABLE 3A ABSTRACT AND INDEX SERVICE, PRICE CHANGE TABLE:

APRIL 1989-MARCH 1992 -NUMBER OF TITLES

A6sTRAmblNo5x

rvlplled MeohanbB Revlewe Ap~QedSciertce&Technolo9y ArtIndex Biological Abstracts Biob~kM&[email protected]

P~I~X can@anPerbdkalIndex Catholic Per. 6 Llt. Index Chemical Abetracte ~~~r&~o~~~~~ Cu~~~~~~ni~l~ CurrentlndextoJrie.lnEduc. Educatlonlndex ~~&U~ic~a~ EnQlneerirqlndex Hoepltal Llterature Index Humenltbslndex ~~n~~inM~.E~. IndexChemiag lndexMedicue lndexto ~~L~~~e lndeXtoLe@Perbdbale Library Literature MeQazlnelndex ~a~rna~Re~~ Musicindex Nurein~ & Allied Healthlit. oceanicAbetracm P~~~~~~~lnf.Seff. pharmaceutical Mstracts Philosopher% Index Phy6ti Abstfacts Pollutbn Abstracts Peychologflcel Abstrecte

ReeUer'eGuldetoPer.Lit. R~nl~x~P~ BciencciCiibnlridex SociYBciencesCitatbnlndex Soclalscienmelndex Sodolo~bal Abetracte

No.oF PREPAlDTlTLES

1990 1991 1992

1076 1067 1030

487 475 458 529 878 809 134 195 185

5188 5088 4804 289 272 288 370 433 422 322 307 292 155 151 152

5192 5286 5057 585 584 530 882 894 829 784 758 743 381 387 359 584 583 530

2849 2638 2887 354 353 343 318 348 349 808 822 785 144 142 133

3393 3334 3122 488 482 448 434 438 430 207 258 245 432 435 425

1198 1191 1139 189 185 181 188 188 170 448 440 423

1150 1127 1088 398 394 385 249 248 230 584 583 529 371 378 381 888 879 857 233 313 309 288 283 259

4487 4439 4182 1711 1710 1852 353 450 442

No.oF siu-LATER nn.fzs

1990 1991 1992

477 472

180

520

155 170 171 125 149 87 92 104

4253 4331 4873 88 53 83

148 135 185 73 101 124 29 33 35

2511 $984 2241 210 212 227 217 221 305 311 341 387 84 97 107

210 212 227 994 1084 1175 99 115 132 00 75 79

158 191 224 81 5% 81

1892 1945 2280 176 t97 244 127 138 149 85 78 90

172 188 221 852 879 928 144 155 183 77 82 85

224 235 254 388 405 485 201 205 229 101 108 115 210 212 227 118 125 148 332 333 382 45 39 87 74 72 78

1581 1558 1821 436 405 482 125 95 ill

10 A. W. ALEXANDER

creased dramatically once again in 1992, despite a precipitous drop in the value of the ruble against most hard currencies. The average price for titles in this category was $128.46, representing a 31.6% increase over the 1991 average price of $97.59. The weighted price for 1992 of $126.94 increased by 56.0% over the 1991 price of $81.37. Austria, meanwhile, historically posts one of the highest weighted prices in this table. The 1992 weighted price was $554.86,

TABLE 3B ABSTRACT AND INDEX SERVICE PRICE CHANGE TABLE:

APRIL 1989-MARCH 1992-AVERAGE PREPAID PRICE

AVERAGE PREPAID

ABSTRACT 8 INDEX

Applied Mechanics Reviews Applied Science 8 Technology Art Index Biological Abstracts Biological & Agric. Index Business Periodical Index Canadian Periodical Index Catholic Per. & Lit. Index Chemical Abstracts Computer 8 Control Abstracts Current Contents-Clinical Practice Current Index to Jrls. in Educ. Education Index Electrical 8 Electronic Abstracts Engineering Index Hospital Literature Index Humanities Index Information Service in Mech. Eng. Index Chemlcus Index Mediis Index to Dental Literature Index to Legal Periodicals Library Literature Magazine Index Mathematical Reviews Music Index Nursing 8 Allied Health Lit. Oceanic Abstracts PAlSPublic Affairs Inf. Serv. Pharmaceutical Abstracts Philosopher’s Index Physics Abstracts Pollution Abstracts Psychological Abstracts Readers Guide to Per. Lit. Religion Index One: Per. Science Citation Index Social Sciences Citation Index Social Sciences Index Sociological Abstracts

SUBSCRIPTION PRICE PER TITLE %CHANGE % CHANGE

1990 1991 1992 90191 91192

354.99 499.86 511.68 40.6% 2.4% 190.41 261.76 304.50 37.5% 16.3%

80.25 91.43 96.29 13.9% 5.3% 215.19 263.18 280.78 22.3% 6.7% 226.86 262.42 283.45 14.7% 8.0% 122.59 129.17 135.53 5.4% 4.9%

63.24 66.59 67.90 5.3% 2.0% 40.26 40.82 41.23 1.4% 1 .O%

273.85 358.23 389.50 30.8% 6.7% 459.02 563.79 686.72 22.6% 21.8% 164.57 185.72 199.79 12.9% 7.6%

95.91 106.13 106.10 10.7% 0.0% 84.18 05.47 85.35 1.5% -0.1%

459.59 564.52 686.54 22.8% 21.6% 278.91 350.10 395.45 28.4% 10.4% 108.22 119.73 126.16 10.6% 5.4% .62.36 64.12 66.12 2.8% 3.1%

304.45 399.16 431.50 31.1% 8.1% 462.61 576.03 661.39 24.5% 14.8% 236.62 263.81 305.67 19.9% 7.7% 163.60 196.81 209.05 20.3% 6.2%

41.70 42.61 44.66 2.2% 4.0% 85.04 94.29 95.65 10.9% 1.4% 69.87 70.49 68.63 0.9% -2.6%

402.36 479.55 527.80 19.2% 10.1% 54.57 62.26 67.94 14.1% 9.1% 60.96 64.96 66.66 6.6% 2.6%

277.44 357.50 370.04 28.9% 5.7% 108.52 117.34 120.72 8.1% 2.9% 176.24 206.99 226.02 16.1% 9.2%

77.49 83.43 88.36 7.7% 5.9% 459.59 564.52 687.74 22.6% 21.6% 302.92 404.65 417.64 33.6% 3.2% 153.50 102.70 186.03 19.1% 1.8%

60.40 65.20 65.05 -4.6% -0.4% 45.47 44.63 46.09 -1.8% 9.5%

331 .a1 411.51 452.92 24.0% 10.1% 140.34 161.22 168.12 14.9% 4.3% 113.90 131.10 133.04 15.0% 1.5% 108.21 122.01 122.92 12.8% 0.7%

Periodical Prices, 1990-1992 11

representing a 6.2% increase over 1991, compared to an average price for 1992 was $137.20, which is 4.9% higher than the 1991 average price.

Table 3 presents average and weighted prices for prepaid periodical titles included in forty abstracting and indexing serial services. While the prices are based on prepaid titles only, the

TABLE 3C ABSTRACT AND INDEX SERVICE PRICE CHANGE TABLE:

APRIL 1989-MARCH 1992-WEIGHTED PRICE

ASSTRACT & INDEX

Applied Mechanics Revkws Apptied Science 8 Technology Aft Index Biological Abstracts Biological & Agric. Index Business Perkdkal Index Canadian Pefkdkal Index Catholic Per. & Lit. Index Chemical Abstracts Computer & Control Abstracts Current Contents-Clinical Practice Current Index to Jrls. in Educ. Education Index Electrical 8 Electronic Abstracts Engineering index Hospital Literature Index Humanities Index Information Service in Mech. Eng. Index Chemicus Index Medkus Index to Dental Literature Index to Legal Periodicals Library Literature Magazine Index Mathematical Reviews Music Index Nursing 8 Allied Heaith Lit Oceanic Abstracts PAlSPublic Affairs lnf. Sew. Phafma~~~l Abstracts Phik~~e~s Index Physics Abstracts Pollution Abstracts Psychological Abstracts Reader’s Guide to Per. Lit. Religion Index One: Per. Science Citatkn Index Social Sciences Citation tftdex Social Sdencas Index Sociological Abstracts

WEIGHED AVERAGE PREPAtD SUBSCt?lPTtGN

PRICE PER TITLE %cH4NGE % CHANGE

1990 1991 1992 90191 91192

408.15 532.34 558.26 171.37 201.48 225.48

89.40 77.35 81.76 260.74 303.97 325.70 220.58 251.21 279.26 100.54 111.29 118.47

54.10 56.32 58.82 44.26 33.94 35.15

350.78 423.34 482.73 808.88 729.58 808.85 137.35 158.03 187.87

93.08 100.41 97.58 75.92 79.28 79.15

808.98 729.95 804.82 282.48 348.18 380.49

97.84 109.98 118.57 56.20 58.58 59.94

254.82 328.18 338.86 516.24 532.15 584.50 254.74 294.03 315.61 229.50 287.74 288.80

47.21 48.55 49.90 93.84 101.81 103.33 67.85 88.27 72.87

416.21 474.78 517.59 67.13 62.70 68.55 65.13 74.78 77.52

273.26 301.38 309.04 99.41 105.51 108.74

158.09 178.49 192.85 89.10 88.58 89.84

808.98 729.95 807.19 289.57 319.97 333.86 145.32 181.62 181.17

88.89 65.01 69.85 55.18 51.81 55.15

327.08 384.89 416.23 116.82 129.83 131.24 108.08 121.03 119.16

30,456 17.8% 11.5% 18.8% 13.9% 10.7%

4.1% -23.3% 22.1% 19.9% 13.8%

7.9% 4.4%

19.9% 23.3% 12.4% -2.8%

28.0% 3.1%

15.4% 18.7% -1.4% 8.5% 0.9%

14.1% -8.8% 14.8% 10.3%

8.1% 12.9% -0.8% 19.9% 18.7% 11.2% -2.5% -8.1% 17.7% 11.0% 12.0%

114.26 120.47 117.99 5.4% -2.1%

4.9% 11.9%

5.7% 7.1%

11.2% 4.7% 4.4% 3.8% 8.0%

10.8% 7.5%

-2.8% -0.1% 10.3%

9.3% 6.0% 5.9% 3.9% 9.8% 7.3% 7.9% 7.2% 1.5% 8.7% 9.0% 9.3% 3.7% 2.5% t.2% 8.0% 1.4%

10.8% 4.3%

-0.3% 7.1% 6.4% 8.1% 1.2%

-1.5%

12 A. W. ALEXANDER

number of nonsubscription, bill-later serial titles that are indexed in the listed services is included.

Only three of the services experienced increases in average price of more than 20 percent for 1992, as compared with fifteen services in 1991. All three services in this category for 1992 repeated from the previous year: Computer and Control Abstracts and Physics Abstracts at 21.8%) and Electrical and Electronic Abstracts at 21.6%. Additionally, five services posted average price increases of between 10 and 20 percent for 1992: Applied Science and Technol- ogy (16.3%), Index Chemicus (14.8%), Engineering Index (10.4%), Mathematical Reviews (10.1 (r/o), and Science Citation Index (10.1 Ore). The highest average price for 1992 was posted by Physics Abstracts at $687.74. Other services with average prices of $500.00 or more included: Computer and Control Abstracts ($686.72), Electrical and Electronic Abstracts ($686.54), Index Chemicus ($661.39), Mathematical Reviews ($527.80), and Applied Mechan- ics Reviews ($511.68).

No services posted weighted price increases of 20 percent or more in 1992, but five had increases of 10 percent or more. By comparison, 25 services posted double-digit weighted price increases in 1991. The largest increase was for Applied Science & Technology Abstracts at 11.9070, followed by Biological & Agricultural Index (11.2Vo), Computer and Control Ab- stracts (10.6%), Physics Abstracts (10.6%), and Electrical and Electronic Abstracts (10.3%). The three highest weighted prices for 1992 also came from this same group: Physics Abstracts ($807.19), Computer and Control Abstracts ($806.65), and Electrical and Electronic Abstracts ($804.82). Three other services posted weighted prices of $500.00 or more, but they were ah, interestingly, less than $600,00: Index Chemicus ($584.50), Applied Mechanics Reviews ($558.26), and Mathematical Reviews ($517.59).

Table 4 shows average subscription price and percent change data by type of library, cov- ering the most recent lo-year period. Until 1990, this table had included data for school libraries (primary, junior high, and high school), but these categories have not been updated since then because the bulk of orders for these types of libraries were transferred to a Faxon subsidiary, Turner Subscriptions. An additional change to this table in 1991 was the redefi- nition of the former “Hospital” category to “Medical” to denote the fact that academic medical school libraries are included here.

For the seventh consecutive year, corporate libraries posted the highest average price at $222.23, while public libraries were lowest at $84.42. The highest rate of increase for 1992 was experienced by government libraries at 11.8%, and public libraries were lowest, once again, with a rate of 4.3%. All five categories had drops in rate of increase from 1991. Academic libraries dropped by almost half, from 13.4% to 7.8% in 1992. Public libraries posted inordinately high rates of increase in 1990 and 1991 as a result of much order activity from small and medium-sized clients moving to Turner, but 1992 yielded a more representative increase of 4.3%.

Table 5 provides an analysis for each type of library by price range, showing percentage of total subscriptions and percentage of total expenditures for each range. Prior to 1991, this table had included only data for academic and public libraries, but now includes all library types shown in Table 4.

The data for all library types show a continuing trend of a relatively small percentage of titles accounting for the majority of dollars expended. For academic libraries, titles costing $200 or more accounted for 17.3% of subscriptions, but 67.3% of dollars expended, while titles costing $1,000 or more accounted for only 2.3% of subscriptions but 27.5% of dollars expended. Medical, government, and corporate libraries posted similar, albeit slightly lower,

Periodical Prices, 1990-1992

TABLE 4A AVERAGE SUBSCRIPTION PRICE BY TYPE OF LIBRARY:

JULY 1982-MARCH 1992 -AVERAGE PRICE

SPECIAL SPECIAL ACADEMIC MEDICAL (GOVT.) (BUSINESS) PUBLIC

7182-6163 76.04 63.98 119.67 102.49 39.01 7183-3184 82.47 88.14 126.47 112.55 41.43 4/84-3185 86.10 100.64 132.90 125.03 45.61 4185-3186 92.32 107.49 133.87 138.22 48.68 4/86-3l87 104.69 121.50 134.87 143.56 52.35 4187-3188 117.75 137.86 146.40 157.70 54.78 4188-3189 125.87 153.07 162.72 171.06 59.43 4189-3190 139.75 169.99 170.53 178.97 69.77 4190-3191 158.53 193.57 195.20 203.92 80.94 4191-3192 170.93 212.62 218.28 222.23 84.43

TABLE 4B AVERAGE SUBSCRIPTION PRICE BY TYPE OF LIBRARY:

JULY 1982-MARCH 1992-ANNUAL “70 CHANGE

SPECIAL SPECIAL ACADEMIC MEDICAL (GOVT.) (BUSINESS) PUBLIC

7182-6183 5.6% 5.7% 14.2% 11.0% 2.1%

7183-3184 5.7% 5.0% 5.7% 9.8% 6.2%

4184-3165 4.4% 14.2% 5.1% 11.1% 10.1% 4185-3186 7.2% 6.8% 0.7% 10.5% 6.7% 4186-3167 13.4% 13.0% 0.7% 3.9% 7.5% 4187-3188 12.5% 13.5% 8.5% 9.8% 4.6% 4/88-3189 8.9% 11.0% 11.1% 8.5% 8.5% 4/89-3190 11.0% 11.1% 4.8% 4.6% 17.4% 4/90-3191 13.4% 13.9% 14.5% 13.9% 16.0% 4191-3192 7.8% 9.8% 11.8% 9.0% 4.3%

13

ratios. Public libraries, meanwhile, experienced even more dramatic differentials, with only 7% of subscriptions costing more than $200 account for almost half of expenditures.

Tabfe 6 summarizes the average and weighted U.S. (domestic) and non-U.S. (foreign) prices for the three years under study. In 1992, average domestic prices increased by 6.3070, compared to 6.1% in 1991, while weighted domestic prices increased by 8.7%, as compared to 9.2% in 1991. The stronger dollar in mid-1991 contributed to lower increases in foreign title prices in 1992. The average foreign price increased by 4.85070, compared to 21.1% in 1991, while weighted foreign prices increased by 6.8%, a fourfold decrease from the 1991 rate of 27.3%.

14 A. W. ALEXANDER

TABLE 5A PERIODICAL PRICE RANGES BY TYPE

OF LIBRARY -ACADEMIC

PERlCDlCAL PRICE RANGE

PERCENT OF TOTAL SUBsCRlPTloNS

4/89-3190 4/90-3191 4/91-3/92

$0-49.99 $50 to 99.99

$100 to 199.99 $200 to 299.99 $300 to 399.99 $400 to 499.99 $500 to 599.99 $600 to 699.99 $700 to 799.99 $800 to 899.99 $900 to 999.99

$1,000 PLUS

48.1% 44.6% 42.3% 24.0% 24.3% 24.1%

13.7% 15.0% 16.2% 4.7% 5.4% 5.9% 2.7% 2.9% 3.0% 1.6% 1 .a% 1.9% 1.1% 1.1% 1.3%

0.9% 1 .O% 1 .O%

0.6% 0.7% 0.8% 0.6% 0.7% 0.7% 0.4% 0.6% 0.7% 1.4% 1.9% 2.3%

$200 plus 14.1% 16.1% 17.3%

PEIWDICAL PRCE RANGE

PERCENT OF TOTAL EXPENDITURES

4/09-3190 4/90-3/91 4191-3192

$0-49.99 $50 to 99.99


$1,000 PLUS

10.4% 13.1% 14.8%

8.8% 7.2% 5.5% 4.4% 4.4% 3.6% 3.9% 3.0%

21 .O%

8.6% 11.7% 14.2%

8.9% 6.7% 5.4% 4.0% 4.4% 3.7% 3.8% 3.8%

24.7%

7.7% 16.8% 14.2%

8.9% 6.4% 5.2% 4.4% 4.0% 3.5% 3.5% 3.8%

27.5%

$200 plus

AVER4GEPRlCE

61.7% 65.5% 67.3%

$139.75 $158.53 $170.93

Table 7 summarizes Faxon title file data used in the compilation of the various tables in this study. Faxon’s list of orderable titles increased from 109,204 to 110,405 (1 .l%) in 1992. The number of bill-later titles decreased slightly, as in 1991, while the net number of prepaid titles increased by 1,286.

Periodical Prices, WJO-1992

TABLE 5B PERIODICAL PRICE RANGES BY TYPE

OF LIBRARY-MEDICAL

PERIODICAL PmCER4GE

PERCENT OF TOTAL SUBSCRlmloNs

4/89-3190 4/90-3191 4191-3192

$0-49.99 22.5% 19.5% 17.3% $50 to 99.99 32.1% 30.5% 28.7%

$100 to 199.99 27.1% 27.3% 28.1%

$200 to 299.99 7.7% 10.1% 11.2%

$300 to 399.99 3.5% 4.2% 4.9% $400 to 499.99 2.0% 2.1% 2.3% $500 to 599.99 1.3% 1.5% 1.7%

$600 to 699.99 0.8% 1 .O% 1.3% $700 to 799.99 0.8% 0.7% 0.7% $800 to 899.99 0.6% 0.6% 0.7% $900 to 999.99 0.4% 0.7% 0.7%

$1,000 PLUS 1.3% 1.7% 2.3%

$200 PLUS 18.3% 22.7% 25.8%


PFtlCERANGE

$0-49.99 $50 to 99.99

$100 to 199.99 $200 to 299.99 $300 to 399.99 $400 to 499.99 $500 to 599.99 $800 to 699.99 $700 to 799.99 $800 t0 899.99 $900 to 999.99

$1,000 PLUS

$200 PLUS

AVERWEF’RICE

4/89-3190 4/90-3191 4191-3192

4.8% 3.5% 2.9% 15.0% 12.6% 11.0% 24.0% 21.4% 20.4% 11.8% 13.8% 13.7%

7.6% 7.9% 8.5% 5.6% 5.2% 5.1% 4.4% 4.6% 4.7% 3.2% 3.7% 4.3% 3.4% 2.8% 2.6% 3.1% 3.0% 3.0% 2.1% 3.6% 3.2%

15.3% 18.0% 20.7%

56.4% 62.4% 65.7%

$169.99 $193.57 $212.62

SUMMARY

15

The 1992 periodical price study marks a return to the more moderating pricing trends of 1989 and 1990, which were broken in 1991. The major factor in this reversal, which will prob- ably be only temporary, was the strengthening dollar in mid-1991. As a result, prices for non-

A. W. ALEXANDER

TABLE 5C PERIODICAL PRICE RANGES BY TYPE

OF LIBRARY-GOVERNMENT

PERIODICAL PRcEwNGE

PERCENT OF TOTAL

SUB!xRlPmNS

4/89-3190 4/90-3191 4191-3192

$0-49.99 39.3% 39.3% 35.7%

$50 to 99.99 20.6% 19.9% 20.3%

$100 to 199.99 16.8% 17.8% 10.4%

$200 to 299.99 7.0% 7.7% 7.8% $300 to 399.99 4.0% 4.7% 5.5%

$400 to 499.99 2.4% 2.5% 2.9%

$500 to 599.99 1.5% 1.7% 1.9%

$600 to 699.99 1.3% 1.3% 1.4% $700 to 799.99 0.9% 1 .O% 1 .O% $600 to 899.99 0.7% 0.9% 1 .O% $900 to 999.99 0.5% 0.7% 0.9%

$1,000 PLUS 1.8% 2.4% 3.1%

$200 PLUS _ 20.2% 23.0% 25.6%

PERIODICAL PRcEwwE

PERCENT OF TOTAL ExPENDrrUREs

4/89-3190 4/90-3191 4191-3192

$0-49.99 $50 to 99.99


$1,000 PLUS

7.6% 6.4% 5.4% 9.3% 7.9% 7.3%

14.9% 13.8% 13.0% 10.6% 10.3% 9.3%

8.5% 8.8% 9.3% 6.6% 6.1% 6.3% 5.1% 4.9% 5.1% 5.3% 4.5% 4.4% 4.2% 4.2% 3.7% 3.6% 4.3% 4.0% 3.1% 3.8% 4.0%

21.1% 25.0% 28.1%

$200 PLUS

AVEWXPIWE

68.2% 71.9% 74.2%

$170.53 $193.20 $218.26

U.S. titles rose much less drastically in 1992 (less than 7%) after increases of more than 20% in 1991. As indicated by Tables 1 and 3, science and technology titles once again accounted for the highest prices and most of the largest rates of increase.

Comments, reactions, and suggestions for changes and other recommendations for future

Periodical Prices, 1990-1992 17

TABLE 5D PERIODICAL PRICE RANGES BY TYPE

OF LIBRARY-BUSINESS

PERKmCAL

PRcEww%

PERCENT OF TOTAL

suBsCRIPTloNs

4/89-3190 4190-3191 4191-3192

W-49.99

$50 to 99.99

$100 to 199.99

$200 to 299.99

$300 to 399.99

$400 to 499.99

$500 to 599.99

$600 to 699.99

$700 to 799.99

$800 to 699.99

$900 to 999.99 $1,000 PLUS

38.0%

23.0%

17.7%

7.4%

4.5%

2.5%

1.7%

1.3%

0.9%

0.7%

0.5%

2.0%

36.4%

22.0%

17.4%

8.2%

4.6%

3.0%

1.8% 1.5%

1.1%

0.8% 0.6%

2.6%

33.7%

21.7%

18.4%

8.0%

5.2%

3.4%

2.1%

1.5%

1 .O%

0.9%

0.6%

3.1%

$200 PLUS _ 21.4% 24.2% 28.2%

PEFIlCocAL

PRKxFwGE

PERCENT OF TOTAL

EXPENDITURES

4/89-3/90 4190-3191 4191-3192

$0-49.99

$50 to 99.99

$100 to 199.99

$200 to 299.99

$300 to 399.99

$400 to 499.99

$500 to 599.99

$600 to 699.99

$700 to 799.99

$800 to 899.99

$900 to 999.99

$1,000 PLUS

7.1% 6.2% 5.4%

10.0% 8.4% 7.8%

14.9% 12.9% 12.7%

10.8% 10.5% 9.4%

9.2% 8.3% 8.5%

6.6% 6.9% 7.3%

5.3% 5.1% 5.5%

4.8% 4.9% 4.7%

3.8% 4.2% 3.6%

3.3% 3.5% 3.7%

2.7% 3.2% 3.4%

21.5% 25.9% 26.0%

$200 PLUS

AVEFVGEPRICE

68.0% 72.5% 74.2%

$178.97 $203.92 $222.23

periodical price studies in this series are invited and encouraged by the Faxon Company. Development of new methodologies for analyzing serials pricing data will provide a better understanding of the economic trends and forces which will affect library materials budgets in-the future.

18 A. W. ALEXANDER

TABLE 5E PERIODICAL PRICE RANGES BY TYPE

OF LIBRARY-PUBLIC

W-49.99

$50 to 99.99 $100 to 199.99 $200 to 299.99 $300 to 399.99 $400 to 499.99 $500 to 599.99 $600 to 699.99 $700 to 799.99 $600 to 699.99 $900 to 999.99

$1,000 PLUS

70.7% 16.6%

7.6% 1.9% 1.1% 0.6% 0.3% 0.3% 0.1% 0.2% 0.1% 0.49/o

67.1% 17.1%

9.1% 2.6% 1.30/o 0.6% 0.4% 0.3% 0.2% 0.2% 0.1% 0.6Yo

64.3% 16.6% 10.1%

3.0% 1.3% 0.6% 0.5% 0.3% 0.2% 0.2% 0.1% 0.6%

$200 PLUS 1 5.0% 6.6% 7.0%

PERIODKXL PRICERANGE

$0-49.99

$50 to 99.99 $100 to 199.99 $200 to 299.99 $300 to 399.99 $400 to 499.99 $500 to 599.99 $600 to 699.99 $700 to 799.99 $600 to 699.99 $900 to 999.99

$1,000 PLUS

$200 PLUS

AVERAGEPRiCE


4/69-3190 4/90-3191 4191-3192

27.1% 22.4% 21.2% 16.5% 16.4% 17.0% 16.2% 16.6% 17.6%

7.2% 6.4% 9.2% 5.6% 5.9% 5.5% 4.3% 4.5% 4.3% 2.3% 2.6% 3.5% 2.6% 2.9% 2.1% 1.3% 2.1% 2.0% 2.1% 2.0% 2.4% 1.6% 1.6% 1.5%

11 .O% 14.3% 13.3%

36.2% 44.6% 43.9%

$69.77 $60.94 $64.43

NO. OF TlTLES AVERAGEPRCE % MXEASE

wEfGHTEDPRlDE % INCREASE

Periodical Prices, MO-1992

TABLE 6 U.S. DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN TITLE

SUBSCRIPTION PRICE COMPARISON CHART

DDMESTIC TfTLES 1 -YR. PATE FOREIGN TfTLES l-YR. RATE

1990 1991 1992

40,453 42,259 42,818 $158.78 $188.54 $179.22

7.5% 8.1% 8.3%

$153.34 $187.45 $182.02 18.2% 9.2% 8.7%

1990 1991 1992

14,759 15,030 14,880 $150.34 $182.09 $190.93

3.3% 21.1% 4.9%

$259.53 $330.40 $352.87 29.0% 27.3% 8.8%

19

TABLE 7 FAXON TITLE DATABASE STATISTICS

April 1991 -March 1992

Orderable titles Bill later titles 39,670 Prepaid titles 70,735

Total orderable titles 110,405

Unorderable titles Discontinued Temporarily suspended Delayed publications Status in question Order direct Merged Reorder

Total unorderable titles

34,872 682 566 257

17,438 47,210 24,520

125,545

Titles used for local library use 185,762

Number of titles on file: (an addition of 15,843’ from April 1991 through March 1992)

421,712

NOTE

1. Periodical price updates for 1974 through 1980 were published in the October 1 issue of Librury Journal and were compiled by Frank F. Clasquin. The 1981 and 1982 studies appeared in Vol. 5, No. 3 of The Serials Libruriun and were compiled by Gerald R. Lowell. The 1982 update appeared in Vo17, No. 1; the 1983 review in Vol. 8, No. 2; the 1984 review in Vol. 9, No. 2; the 1985 review in Vol. 9, No. 4; the 1986 review in Vol. 11, No. 1; the 1987 update in Vol. 13, No. 1 of The Serials Libruriun and were compiled by Rebecca T. Lenxini. The 1988 review appeared in Vol. 14, No. 1 of The Serials Libruriun and was compiled by Ronald Akie. The 1989 updated appeared in Vol. 17, Nos. l/2, and the 1990 update appeared in Vol. 18, Nos. 314 of The Serials Librarian and were compiled by Peter R. Young. The 1991 update was published in Vol. 16, No. 1 of Library Acquisitions: Practice & Theory and was compiled by Adrian W. Alexander.

Documents

Periodical prices, 1990–1992