Rural Mainstreet Index Falls Under Growth Neutral Again

Rural Mainstreet Index Falls Under Growth Neutral Again

(NAFB.com)  – The Rural Mainstreet Index remained below growth neutral for a fourth straight month in May as weak grain prices, rising input costs, and economic uncertainty continued to pressure rural economies across a ten-state region. Creighton University’s monthly survey of rural bank CEOs showed the overall index fell to 45.7 in May from 47.9 in April. A reading below 50 signals economic contraction. “Weakness in farm commodity prices and e…

Rural Mainstreet Index remains below growth neutral as slowdown continues

Iowa’s Rural Mainstreet Index remained below growth neutral in May, dropping to 44.3 from April’s 46.4.  The state’s farm and ranchland price index in May improved to 48.4 from 46.4 in April, but its new hiring index declined to 40.3 from April’s 46.3. For the 15th time since January 2025, the 10-state region’s overall Rural…