Cutting cardboard and the signs it delivers about the economy

Cutting cardboard and the signs it delivers about the economy

Despite resilient stock markets and relatively low unemployment, cracks are forming beneath the surface: job growth is cooling, inflation remains stubborn and retailers are preparing for a weaker holiday season. And a slowdown in cardboard box production could be one of the clearest signs yet that the U.S. economy is bracing for a downturn. But there are signs that companies are expecting things to go sour. For one, recent forecasts about the up…