NPR.

This is the indicator from Planet Money, I'm Whale and Wong.

And I'm Paddy Hirsch.

The global economic downturn is wreaking havoc in almost every industrial sector.

Now that might sound bad, but in business, turmoil and volatility can mean opportunity,

and when someone loses, someone else usually ends up winning.

And perhaps no other industry is showcasing this dynamic right now more than shipping.

Over the last six months, the cost to fill and transport a shipping container has dropped

roughly 80%.

80%.

That's a big price drop that's killing container shipping companies.

But it is great news for companies who need to get those good shipped, because they're

looking at an 80% discount.

And because we, the consumer, are the ones buying those goods that discount should be great

for us too, right?

Yeah.

Maybe.

On today's show, we're going to look at the great turnaround in shipping, why it's happening,

what it means for the container ship industry, and how the American consumer might just

might benefit.

That's coming up after the break.

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