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Economics

The Forgotten Shipping Pallet Stages a Pandemic-Era Rally

  • Prices of lumber, nails skyrocket amid shortages of workers
  • Wood’s dominance tested as Costco runs plastic-pallet trial
An employee uses a forklift truck to move a stack of heat treated wooden pallets in Huddersfield.
An employee uses a forklift truck to move a stack of heat treated wooden pallets in Huddersfield.Photographer: Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg
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After carrying the weight of the global economy since World War II with little fanfare, the lowly shipping pallet is finally commanding some respect.