The economy may be on the mend, slowly, but the severity of the recession that officially began in December 2007 and the specific areas that it hit hardest can now be studied in detail. Economic census data for 2009 are available from the U.S. Census Bureau, an agency whose work is too often undervalued and its value underestimated. Without a clear picture of what is truly going on in the economy, good decisions are hard to make.

We tip our hats to the U.S. Census Bureau and to all the federal agencies dedicated to the collection and compilation of statistical data.

Today’s market size item is based on the value of product shipments made by manufacturers of wood containers and wood pallets.

Geographic reference: United States
Year: 2008 and 2009
Market size: $6.89 and 5.51 billion respectively
Source: “Sector 31: Annual Survey of Manufactures: Value of Products Shipments: Value of Shipments for Product Classes: 2009 and 2008,” 2009 Annual Survey of Manufactures, December 3, 2010, available online here.
Original source: U.S. Census Bureau, Department of Commerce