GENERATION LAGGING ACROSS THE BOARD.

A survey conducted by Bank of America Securities shows that independent box makers in the U.S. believe that the "cardboard box recession" may be coming to an end. Most respondents expect prices to continue increasing throughout the year, with box shipments projected to grow by more than 3 percent. Prices for old corrugated containers (OCC) have been steadily rising, indicating potential improvement in box demand. However, consumer spending has remained relatively weak, leading to fewer tons of OCC and mixed paper being collected for recycling. This has contributed to a mill shutdown in Washington state, affecting 190 workers. [Extracted from the article]