When inflation spiked last year, companies responded by raising their prices. As price pressures started to ease, companies opted to prioritize pricing over volume. The move made perfect sense, says Samuel Rines as pricing helped maintain margins. It’s a strategy he has dubbed “price and margin” (PAM). And as input costs retreated and prices stayed steady, the money fell to the bottom line. It’s one of the things that kept him bullish in the face of widespread bearishness early this year. He also sees several things simmering beneath the surface that suggest the economy may not be as weak as many believe.
