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1 week ago | 
plasticsnews.com | Don Loepp |Bill Wood
In the May edition of Numbers That Matter Live, Plastics News Economics Editor Bill Wood offered a frank, wide-ranging look at the economic headwinds — and potential turning points — facing the U.S. plastics industry. Wood pulled no punches (recording below) in his assessment of the impact decades of offshoring have had on domestic manufacturing.
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2 weeks ago | 
plasticsnews.com | Bill Wood
I often hear the term "inflection point," and to be honest, it has lost much of its weight. These moments are often more clearly identified in hindsight. Many events are prematurely labeled as turning points, while truly pivotal ones go unnoticed until long after the fact. So when someone declares, "We are at an inflection point," I respond with skepticism. But I also acknowledge that inflection points are real — and in the context of the economy and business cycles, they can be momentous.
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4 weeks ago | 
plasticsnews.com | Bill Wood
Plastics News Economics Editor Bill Wood describes the current economic climate as “The Great Disturbance,” marked by sharp contrasts between soft and hard data. While consumer and business confidence has dropped since new tariffs were announced, key economic indicators like employment and inflation remain stable. A spike in imports distorted GDP data, as businesses rushed to buy goods ahead of the tariff implementation.
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1 month ago | 
plasticsnews.com | Don Loepp |Bill Wood
The odds for a recession are rising, but aren’t at 50-50 yet, according to Bill Wood, Plastics News’ economics editor. In the April Numbers That Matter editorial livestream, Wood discussed the impact of tariffs on the plastics industry, noting that current data — the declining dollar, rising gold prices, and volatile stock markets — are indicators of economic uncertainty. Recording below.
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1 month ago | 
plasticsnews.com | Bill Wood
I will start this month's column with a forecast: The roller-coaster ride is not over. I have taken a hard look at the recent data, analyzed the predominant trends and can state with an elevated level of confidence that the market and economic gyrations resulting from the policies initiated by the Donald Trump administration will extend at least into the next few months. And there is a rising possibility the commotion will persist much longer than that.
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2 months ago | 
plasticsnews.com | Bill Wood |Don Loepp
In the March 25 Numbers that Matter Live, Bill Wood discussed the growing U.S. trade deficit in goods — which jumped from $100 billion to over $150 billion in just one month — and its implications for the plastics industry. Recording below. Wood questioned the effectiveness of tariffs, including on key end markets for plastics including automotive, construction, packaging and appliances. “I don't see the economic argument for doing it this way.
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2 months ago | 
plasticsnews.com | Bill Wood
Philadelphia Federal Reserve President Patrick Harker, as quoted in The Wall Street Journal: "None of us in the profession can say for sure what's going to happen."With the deadline for activation fast approaching, the dominant narrative in the media still pertains to tariffs. And this voluminous narrative shows no signs of cresting. I expressed my fundamental disdain for tariffs in my last column (Assessing the U.S. motor vehicle market amid potential tariffs, Feb.
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2 months ago | 
plasticsnews.com | Bill Wood
Bill Wood breaks down the economic outlook heading into a major policy shift, as sweeping new tariffs are set to take effect on April 2 under President Donald Trump. He notes that while overall economic indicators for early 2025 are mixed, the plastics industry is clearly underperforming, with output down 3 percent year to date. Wood emphasizes the uncertainty ahead, saying no one can predict how the market will react once the tariffs are in place.
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Feb 25, 2025 | 
plasticsnews.com | Don Loepp |Bill Wood
Some key economic indicators for the North American plastics industry are trending down to start 2025, Plastics News Economics Editor Bill Wood noted in the February Numbers That Matter Live. Watch the full recording below. Wood took a deep dive into the data, explaining that he wanted to get a good idea of the state of plastics manufacturing now, before tariffs start to impact the sector.
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Feb 25, 2025 | 
plasticsnews.com | Don Loepp |Bill Wood
Some key economic indicators for the North American plastics industry are trending down to start 2025, Plastics News Economics Editor Bill Wood noted in the February Numbers That Matter Live. Watch the full recording below. Wood took a deep dive into the data, explaining that he wanted to get a good idea of the state of plastics manufacturing now, before tariffs start to impact the sector.
