Edited release
04/18/25
For the 19th time in the past 20 months, the overall Rural Mainstreet Index sank below growth neutral in April, according to the monthly survey of bank CEOs in rural areas of Iowa and 9 other state regions dependent on agriculture and/or energy.
Ernie Goss of Creighton University oversees the survey. He says the economic outlook for 2025 farm income remains weak. Despite negative fallout from President Donald Trump’s tariff policy, three-quarters of bankers surveyed support the tariffs on China, and nearly 80 percent support the 90-day pause on other tariffs.
High input prices, tighter credit conditions and market volatility from tariffs are having a negative impact on the purchases of farm equipment, with April’s index dropping from 20 to 17.4.
Iowa’s overall economic index rose, but ever so slightly, from 39.2 to 39.8.
None of the ten states surveyed had overall scores above growth neutral; the best were Missouri and Minnesota, with 47.6
The full report is available at Creighton.edu.