More locals filling Bellingham shops as Canadians stay home

As the Canadian dollar continues to weaken and cross-border shopping traffic slows, Bellingham’s economy appears to be getting a boost from local shoppers.

The number of people passing through the five border crossings southbound into Whatcom County totaled fewer than 1.3 million in June, nearly 200,000 less people than the same time a year ago, according to data collected by Western Washington University’s Border Policy Research Institute.