The cardboard box has become an unlikely economic barometer, and the latest signals aren’t encouraging, according to Quartz. Demand for boxes has fallen sharply, prompting the nation’s largest producer to close two Georgia mills and cut more than a thousand jobs. Across the industry, roughly 9 percent of containerboard capacity has been taken offline in under a year. Economists pay attention to box demand because it tracks the flow of goods. Appliances, food, electronics, and retail products all depend on packaging, so when orders decline, it often reflects weakening consumer spending. Historically, dips in cardboard demand of 10 to 15 percent have aligned with recessions.
Another looming concern is trade policy. A sizable share of cardboard packaging supports exports, and upcoming tariffs are expected to constrain outbound shipments in 2026. At the same time, mergers have concentrated market control among a few major players. That consolidation gives them room to shut plants and balance supply without slashing prices. While not a perfect forecasting tool, the retreat in box production suggests something deeper may be shifting in the broader economy.
New York City is scaling up a novel approach to last-mile logistics and package security, according to Supply Chain Dive. Its LockerNYC pilot is adding 36 new parcel locker stations, bringing the network to 70 locations spread across all five boroughs. Since launching in spring 2024, residents have used the lockers more than 15,000 times to send and receive packages handled by major carriers including UPS, FedEx, USPS, and DHL. The program tackles two persistent challenges: widespread package theft and chronic delivery congestion. The city has reported that tens of thousands of packages go missing daily, and an overwhelming share of freight moves by truck.
By consolidating deliveries into secure pickup points, officials hope to reduce repeat delivery attempts and cut down on vehicle trips in crowded neighborhoods. The lockers are operated by GoLocker and are entering their final pilot phase before the city evaluates performance next summer. This initiative complements other efforts like micro-distribution hubs and low-emission delivery methods. If the model proves effective, New York could set the pace for other dense cities working to modernize urban logistics while curbing theft and traffic.