It didn't take long for the new coronavirus to slow Maine's economy. The federal Bureau of Economic Analysis says Maine's gross domestic product shrank at a 6.3% rate in the first quarter of this year.It was only in the last few weeks of the quarter that large segments of the economy were shut down in a bid to encourage social distancing and slow the spread of COVID-19.
Economic output figures for the 2nd quarter, which ended last month, are likely to show bigger declines.