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BriefNews· Vancouver, BC

B.C. residents' spending in Whatcom County fell 63% in 2025, study says

A Western Washington University study found cross-border spending by British Columbians in Whatcom County, Washington, dropped by around 63 per cent in 2025.

By Northline Newsroom
1 min read

Reported by Vancouver Sun; study details not independently confirmed.

Vehicles approaching a Canada–U.S. border crossingIllustrative photo
Vehicles approaching a Canada–U.S. border crossing. Photo: Thomson M / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0 · CC BY 3.0

Cross-border spending by British Columbians in Whatcom County, Washington, fell by around 63 per cent in 2025, according to a Western Washington University study.

The Vancouver Sun reported the finding, describing it as a huge drop in what B.C. residents spend in the county.

Because Whatcom County is in Washington state, the spending the study tracked is money that British Columbians, including people in Metro Vancouver, spent on the American side of the border. A decline of that size points to a marked change in where that money is going.

The Sun's report is the source for the study's 63 per cent figure.

Sources

Facts first. Context second. Sources always. This story was prepared with AI assistance from the sources listed above and reviewed by a Northline editor before publication. How we use AI · Report an error