During the COVID-19 pandemic, some Whatcom industries are faring better than others

Economists have been speculating about how industries will recover during the pandemic. As discussed in a recent Western Insights economic forecast Zoom presentation, instead of the “V” shape recovery many were hoping for (sharp downturn, followed by a sharp rebound), more are thinking the shape may look more like a “K,” where there is a sharp downturn, followed with some industries recovering and others starting to recover, but then deteriorating again.

The end result is that there are two very different narratives when it comes to the economy, said Hart Hodges, director of Western Washington University’s Center for Economic and Business Research during the Zoom presentation.