Ahead of the Curve

"No. 1 on the hit parade is the potential for recession," says Van de Water. "Though leading economists say we will avert it," he notes, "it's going to be a close call. If we do get by it's going to be by the skin of our chin." Though 2000's fourth quarter downturn was interrupted by an uptick in carton production in January 2001, carton market conditions are expected to continue to be spotty for some time. "For some converters, business has never been better," he points out.