Dec 29, 2008. /Lesprom.com/. U.S. total printing-writing paper shipments decreased 20.2% in November compared to November 2007, Lesprom Network informed according to the American Forest & Paper Association’s November 2008 Printing-Writing Paper Report. For the year-to-date, shipments were down 6.6%. U.S. purchases of printing-writing papers dropped 20.7% in November versus year-ago. Total printing-writing paper inventory levels increased 23,700 tons from October, a 1.2% increase. Uncoated mechanical shipments decline for third consecutive month following eight consecutive months of increases. UM shipments decreased 6.8% when compared to November 2007. U.S. purchases of UM were down 18.9% when compared to November 2007. UM inventories increased 1.3%, or 1,100 tons, from October. Uncoated free sheet shipments decreased for eleventh consecutive month. UFS shipments fell 17.3% compared to November 2007. For the year-to-date, UFS shipments were 7.6% below last year. U.S. purchases of UFS were also down, declining 18.2% when compared to November 2007, as a surge in imports in September returned to normal levels in October. UFS inventories increased 0.5% compared to last month, an uptick of 6 thousand tons. Coated free sheet shipments hit double-digit decline for third consecutive month. CFS shipments dropped by 19.5% compared to November 2007. For the year-to-date, shipments of CFS were down 8.4%. U.S. purchases of CFS decreased 22.8% compared to last November. CFS inventories increased 8.8% compared to October, an increase of 41,900 tons. Coated mechanical shipments decreased the most in November, its seventh consecutive decline. CM shipments fell 34.2% when compared to November 2007. Year-to-date shipments of CM were down 8.5% compared to last year. U.S. purchases of CM were down 25.8% compared to November 2007. Despite the drop in shipments, CM inventories decreased 9.2%, or 25,500 tons, from last month.