EBSCO Releases 2024 Serials Pricing Projections

NISO Member News

From the EBSCO Press Release, October 11, 2023

This year’s report projects that the overall effective publisher price increases for academic and academic medical libraries are expected to be (before any currency impact) in the range of three to four percent for individual e-journal titles, two to three percent for e-journal packages and four to five percent for print titles.

Published annually, EBSCO’s Serials Price Projection is based on surveys of a wide range of publishers and reviews of historical serials pricing data to assist information professionals as they make budgeting decisions for the upcoming renewals season. This report looks at market dynamics highlighting many issues that are currently driving the scholarly information marketplace including economic factors such as high inflation rates, currency impact, the trend toward Open Access (OA) content, and the decline of print materials and more.

Although this report is based upon careful analysis, EBSCO recommends using caution when using these projections, as they rely on historical trends and current estimates. To read the 2024 Serials Price Projection Report in its entirety and view the Five-Year Journal Price Increase History, visit: https://www.ebsco.com/sites/default/files/acquiadam-assets/EBSCO-Serials-Price-Projections-Report-2024.pdf

From the Executive Summary

Each year, EBSCO surveys a wide range of publishers and reviews historical serials pricing data to provide our customers with serials price projections to assist them in budgeting for the upcoming renewal season. While the serials price forecasts are based upon careful analysis, EBSCO recommends customers exercise caution when using these projections as they rely on historical trends and current estimates.

At the time of writing, EBSCO expects the overall effective publisher price increases for academic and academic medical libraries for 2024 (before any currency impact) to be in the ranges noted in the table below (see report). The forecasted increase for print titles is slightly higher than that for online versions. Also important is the role of e-journal packages in the information marketplace. More than 60 percent of EBSCO's sales for 2023 were from e-journal packages; likewise, library budgets are, in large part, spent on these e-journal collections. As a result, their impact on the overall serials price increases is significant. EBSCO expects the overall average price increase for e-journal packages, including provisions for mandatory take-over titles, upgrades, etc. to continue to be slightly lower than print and individual e-journal titles.

The 2024 Price Projections report is here. Find out what trends may affect your budget planning.#librarynews #librarieshttps://t.co/gJbi4mveWN

— EBSCO (@EBSCO) October 12, 2023