00:00Almost every package starts with a box. It travels from a factory floor to a loading dock to a front porch.
00:07But that same box does more than carry what you ordered. It carries clues about the economy.
00:15Economists call it the cardboard box index. When box orders drop, it can signal a slowdown in shopping and shipping.
00:23When stacks build up, it means demand is strong and businesses are preparing for more sales.
00:27Virginia Tech economist Jadrian Wooten says fewer boxes and rising job losses flashed early warning signs in the 2008 recession.
00:37Investopedia says 75 to 80 percent of goods arrive in a box.
00:41Chip Lupo with WalletHub says the box index isn't perfect, but it can give an early read on consumer confidence before bigger numbers like GDP catch up.
00:51The latest report from the Bureau of Economic Analysis shows GDP grew 3.3 percent in the second quarter, driven by higher consumer spending and fewer imports.
01:02Economists also watch other signals, home construction, car sales, even lunchtime traffic, to see how Americans are spending.
01:10Read the full story right now on the Straight Arrow News mobile app or go to san.com.
01:13For Straight Arrow News, I'm Kaylee Carey.
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