In 2004 independent research from LISU, the UK's national research, consultancy and information center at Loughborough University, produced these findings about the cost of subscribing to electronic information. (At the time of the study, the dollar was exchanging against the pound at about $1.90.)
- Median journal prices vary widely among publishers, ranging from £124 (Cambridge University Press) to £781 (Elsevier) in 2004.
- The range of price increases over the period 2000 to 2004 also varied considerably, from 27% (Cambridge University Press) to 94% (Sage).
- Median values for prices of humanities and social sciences titles tend to be lower than those in other subject categories. It is notable that Elsevier has the highest median price in every subject area.
- There is some evidence of the application of 'blanket' price increases by publishers across their ranges of titles and subjects.
