Rising Wooden Pallet Costs Contribute to High Consumer Prices

Rising Wooden Pallet Costs Contribute to High Consumer Prices
A giant robotic arm loads pallets of chainsaws at the Stihl Inc. production plant in Virginia Beach, Va., on May 25, 2017. AP Photo/John Minchillo
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Against a backdrop of ongoing supply chain concerns, a key but often overlooked aspect is the cost and availability of wooden pallets, the price of which has shot up during the pandemic and is driving up prices for consumers.

Market data shows that prices have increased by up to 60 percent, creating unexpected challenges for industries and undesired consequences for consumers.