Key Questions As gas prices have spiked in Washington State, have they also spiked in Canada? How has the relationship changed between gas prices north and south of the border? And when gas prices are meaningfully different on one side of the border, how does that affect border crossings? Gas Prices Remain Higher in British Columbia Gas prices in British Columbia are typically higher than in Washington State, which has historically encouraged some Canadian drivers to cross th

The Whatcom County housing market is soft compared to recent years, although homes remain unaffordable for many buyers. The number of homes for sale at this time of year is at its highest in 10 years. The months of supply is at its highest in 10 years, but it is a balanced market, not a buyer's market. Median home prices remain elevated, but price growth has come to a halt. Based on the 3-month moving average, the median residential home price is currently $634,000. Notably,

Border crossing activity in Whatcom County remains below prior levels, and that appears to be affecting retail spending in the county. Because the local retail market has long benefited from shopping demand from Canadian visitors, weaker cross-border traffic can have a measurable impact on taxable retail sales. The following graph shows cross-border traffic in 2025 relative to 2024. The overall drop in 2025 was 24.0% from the prior year. However, it does not appear that condi