Creighton Economist: Regional Economic Index Lowest Since May 2020

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Creighton University economics professor, Dr. Ernie Goss conducts a monthly survey of community bank presidents in 200 rural communities of a 10-state region consisting of the states of Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming. This Rural Mainstreet Index declined to 34.6 in October 2025, compared to 38.5 in September, and was the lowest reading for the index since May 2020. As is typical for these indexes, a reading below 50 indicated contraction. According to respondents, weak grain prices are “dampening economic activity” and generally lowering farm and ranch land values. Federal trade policies are having a significant negative impact. Exports of agricultural products in the first seven months of 2025 were down 10.3% compared to the same period last year, but exports to China during this period were down 85.7%.


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