Have you ever wondered how your online orders arrive in those sturdy cardboard boxes — and what it means when there are fewer of them? Fewer boxes often hint at softer retail demand across U.S.

Few inventions have blended as seamlessly into our daily living routines as the humble cardboard box. We get excited to see piles of them near our front door. We stuff them with papers. Our cats love ...

Experts recommend inspecting packages before bringing them indoors, as pests like cockroaches and beetles use packaging materials for shelter and food.