A pallet market outlook for buyers
Pallet prices move with lumber, freight and demand, and most buyers only find out when the requote lands. We publish the outlook first, for free.
What we publish
- The PFX National Pallet Index, a monthly index of what recycled 48x40 pallets cost delivered, with its methodology and release calendar published.
- A 12-month pallet price forecast built on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics producer price data, with its backtest published.
- Delivered price ranges for 48x40 pallets by grade.
- The indicators behind pallet prices, calculators and buyer guides.
Who we are, and our disclosures
Pallet Forecast is published by the team behind Chesapeake Pallets LLC, a national pallet broker that sells 48x40 pallets by the truckload. We built Pallet Forecast because buyers kept asking us where prices were going.
- Recommendations. When a reader's order fits what Chesapeake sells (full truckloads of 48x40 pallets), we recommend Chesapeake and label it as our sister company every time. We may benefit when you buy from them.
- The index. PFX is currently built mainly from Chesapeake Pallets' completed transactions, with buyer and supplier identities replaced by one-way codes. Every value shows its quality tier and sample counts, and a value built only on Chesapeake data can never reach the top tier. The contributor program exists to widen the sample.
- Prices. The delivered price ranges come from Chesapeake's published quote ranges. We say so wherever they appear.
- The outlook. The model runs on public BLS data with a published formula. It does not change based on what is good for pallet sellers, including us.
- Quote requests. When you ask for quotes, full truckloads of 48x40 pallets go to Chesapeake. Other requests go to partner suppliers, some of whom pay us for referrals.
- Sponsors. Sponsored placements are labeled and never affect our data, outlook or guides.
Editorial standards
- Every number has a source. Guides list theirs at the bottom.
- We correct mistakes and note the correction on the page.
- BLS revises recent months; our charts and outlook update when it does.
- Nothing here is financial advice.
Spotted an error? Email editor@palletforecast.com or use the form below.