Boeing’s 737 Max Production Halt Is Drag on US Economy, Economists Say

A worker leaves the Boeing 737 factory in Renton, Washington, on Dec. 16, 2019. The company announced it is suspending production of the plane, which has been grounded since early 2019 after two crashes, in January 2020. Stephen Brashear/Getty Images

WASHINGTON—Boeing’s halt to production of its troubled 737 Max airliner beginning last month is having an effect on the broader U.S. economy, according to lead economists.

Boeing was forced to ground its most popular passenger jet in March last year after two fatal crashes that killed a combined 346 people aboard. Since then, the aircraft manufacturer has been struggling to clear regulatory demands to return the plane to service.