I'd say computer-to-plate has a lot to do with it. Those imagesetters and their film were expensive and time-consuming to work with. IIRC, there's straight computer-to-press now, the press writes the offset image right on the drum surface then starts printing.
Oh no, it’s not CTP, that’s been in the mix for going on a decade now. The local print market is very competitive, and prices are down. I’ve been a print broker and have a general feel for what cost should be. They’re selling at cost. To keep the lights on and live to see a better day, I guess.
Trouble is, all the furniture and apparel manufacturers import as much or more than they produce domestically anymore, and so the offshore printers have gotten a foothold, and have begun to pursue not just tags and packaging for overseas sourced product, but domestic marketing materials and such.
The pricing pressure doesn’t look to be going away.