Q3 Paper Outlook — Predictable Patterns

Brian Kullman, vice president, material procurement, R.R. Donnelley & Sons, attributes the lack of pricing activity this quarter to seasonal slowness. "Consumption is at a seasonal low point in the second quarter, then begins to rack up in July," he states.

While the paper market has stagnated this quarter, prices did go up significantly last quarter. Early on in January, the typical No. 4 and 5 sheets increased in the ballpark of 6 percent.