An Unthought Of Indicator

[Ozarks Tom]

We take for granted the cardboard box and it's reflection of economic activity.  The author of this article makes sense, everything is shipped in boxes.

Maybe all the good news from Yellen and Powell is a bit premature?

Earlier this month, Packaging Corp. of America reported that cardboard box sales fell 9.8% in the second quarter. That ranks as one of the biggest slumps on record when you combine it with the 12.7% drop in Q1. According to a report by FreightWaves Research, the combined six-month decline ranks as the biggest plunge since early 2009.

Now, you might wonder, ‘What do cardboard box sales have to do with the economy?’

Stop and think about it. Stuff gets shipped in boxes. Everything from raw materials to final products arriving at your door is packaged in boxes. If there is less stuff produced and sold, an economy will need fewer boxes. So, cardboard box sales serve as a pretty good indicator of real economic activity — 

schiffgold.com/key-gold-news/big-drop-in-cardboard-box-sales-scream-recession/

[wildhorseluvr]

I probably wouldn’t have thought of that, but it totally makes sense. 

[daw]

Any smaller things are shipped in mylar bags or manilla envelopes.

[FeralFerret]

Amazon has made a shift away from boxes to the mylar pouches, as have some others. That said, I think it is a reflection of both a shift to cheaper packaging and a downturn in the economy.

I sell on eBay. I know that my sales are definitely down from a year ago. Less disposable income is available for non-essential items.