Our View: Closures don't reflect economy

For some, the last few months have been a scary time.

In Rock Springs, the economic center of Sweetwater County, three long-time chain stores will have shut down by the end of the year. J.C. Penney and Sports Authority have already shut their doors and Hastings recently initiated a liquidation of its stock. For a state still reeling from severe declines in its energy economy, news of such large chains closing their stores may look like more bad news for Wyoming. However, these closures have nothing to do with the state’s downturn, but more with national trends.

Hastings’ demise is proba...