Market Report: A mixed report for Whatcom in the first quarter of 2013
It was an up-and-down first quarter in Whatcom County, according to economic data.
A few indicators point toward a strengthening local economy in 2013, such as bankruptcies (down), car sales (up) and some building permit activity (up). However, unemployment also jumped, along with foreclosure filings. A few data categories gave a mixed message, such as real estate: Home sales are up in Bellingham but sluggish in much of the rest of the county.