Fewer Canadian Border Crossings Are Affecting Local Retail Sales

Canadian shoppers have long played an important role in Whatcom County’s retail economy. From grocery stores and gas stations to restaurants, clothing retailers, and big-box stores, cross-border spending has historically provided a meaningful boost to local businesses.

Recent data suggests that this spending has slowed noticeably.

During the second and third quarters of 2025, personal vehicle border crossings from Canada into Whatcom County were down approximately 28% compared to the prior year. That is a substantial decline, and the impact appears to be showing up in local retail sales data.

In 2024, Whatcom County retail sales increased by 1.4% from the prior year. That was generally in line with the average growth seen across four neighboring counties. In other words, Whatcom County was not an outlier in 2024.

However, the picture changed in 2025.

During the second and third quarters of 2025, Whatcom County retail sales were essentially flat compared to the prior year. By contrast, the four neighboring counties showed average retail sales increases of 5.1% and 4.8% over the prior year during those same quarters.

That is a meaningful difference.

While there are always multiple factors that can influence retail sales, it is difficult to identify another obvious explanation for Whatcom County’s relative weakness compared to nearby counties. The most apparent difference is the sharp drop in Canadian border traffic.

This suggests that the decline in Canadian shoppers is having a measurable effect on Whatcom County’s retail sector. The data supports what many local businesses may already be feeling: fewer Canadian visitors means fewer retail dollars being spent in the county.

Cross-border shopping has always been an important part of the local economy, and the recent drop-off in Canadian traffic appears to be showing up clearly in the numbers. For Whatcom County, border activity is not just a transportation statistic. It is an important economic indicator.