Whatcom’s GDP jumps 8.6 percent in 2013

Whatcom County’s penchant for making things continues to grow substantially, according to a new federal report.

This area’s gross domestic product grew 8.6 percent in 2013 compared to the previous year, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

That’s one of the highest one-year jumps among the 381 U.S. metro areas; Skagit County topped the list at 10.6 percent, fueled by growth in petroleum refining and manufacturing.