OTHER NEWS - March 9, 1992

Paper Consumption Slips in 1991: Consumers bought fewer paper products last year, but the paper industry says it is poised for recovery after several years of sagging growth. The nation’s consumption of paper goods slipped 2.2% last year, the American Paper Institute said. U.S. production of paper products, meanwhile, grew a slight 0.8%, buoyed by growth in overseas sales. Red Cavaney, president of the group, said that the decline in paper consumption brought on by the weak economy was concentrated in the first half of the year and that consumption rebounded by year’s end. Cavaney said the industry was about to resume healthy growth because product inventories are low and productivity is high. The industry is progressing toward its goal of collecting 40% of all paper used in the United States by 1995 for recycling, the group added. Last year, 35% was collected.