Q1 Paper Outlook — Market Taking Stock

Pictorial's Samuels says before the end of 2002 he already was getting reports of another price increase for web papers proposed for February or March of 2003. He is expecting it to be in the 4.75 percent range.

So far, paper price increases generally have met with understanding on the part of buyers. Rather than grumbling, they recognize that the historically low prices had put mills into an unsustainable financial situation.