Wrangell business owners and managers who responded this past spring to an economic outlook survey were about in the middle among Southeast communities.

While about half of those in Wrangell who answered the survey said they expected business would be down the next 12 months, the responses were much more pessimistic in Skagway, Haines, Hoonah and Ketchikan, all of which are more dependent on large cruise ships. In addition, Skagway and Haines have been hit hard by the U.S.-Canada border closure and loss of highway visitor traffic.

Juneau-based Rain Coast Data conducted the survey for the So...