OLYMPIA, Wash. — Sales of things we pay taxes on saw healthy gains in Whatcom County in the second half of 2019 compared to the same period last year.
Whatcom County saw a 7% percent increase in all taxable retail sales and 11% percent more in retail trade.
That’s a subset of retail sales that includes things most of us buy like clothes, furniture and cars but excludes industries like services or construction.
Bellingham, Ferndale and Lynden saw increases in retail trade of 7 – 8%.
But the border communities of Blaine, Sumas, Everson and Nooksack saw huge gains of between 25% and 40%.