The number of 18-year-olds is about to drop sharply, packing a wallop for colleges—and the economy

The number of 18-year-olds is about to drop sharply, packing a wallop for colleges—and the economy

Michael P. Farrell // Albany Times Union via Getty Images The number of 18-year-olds is about to drop sharply, packing a wallop for colleges—and the economy Pickup trucks with trailers and cars with yawning trunks pulled up onto untended lawns in front of buildings from which people lugged books, furniture, mattresses, trophy cases and artwork. Anything else of value had already been sold by a company that specializes in auctioning off the lefto…