Rural Mainstreet Index falls for January as loan defaults seen as challenge

The Creighton University Rural Mainstreet Index for January fell, but remained above growth neutral, according to the monthly survey of bank CEOs in rural areas of a 10-state region dependent on agriculture and/or energy.

The overall index sank to 51.5 from December’s 54.2. This was the 11th time in the past 12 months the index has remained above growth neutral. The index ranges between 0 and 100 with 50.0 representing growth neutral.

“Our surveys over the last several months indicate the Rural Mainstreet economy is expanding outside of agriculture. However, the negative impacts of tariffs and low agriculture commodity prices continue to weaken the farm sector,” said Ernie Goss, PhD, Jack A. MacAllister Chair in Regional Economics at Creighton University’s Heider College of Business, saidOmaha, Nebraska.

Sector reports

Farming and ranching

The farmland and ranchland-price index for January increased to 37.9 from 35.7 in December. This is the 62nd straight month the index has fallen below growth neutral 50.0.

The January farm equipment-sales index climbed to 40.9 from December’s 37.1. This marks the 65th consecutive month that the reading has remained below growth neutral 50.0.

Banking

Borrowing by farmers for January was strong as the borrowing index declined to 55.8 from December’s 72.2. The checking-deposit index expanded to 67.6 from December’s 55.6 while the index for certificates of deposit and other savings instruments sank to 47.1 from 55.6 in December.

Hiring

The employment gauge fell to a still solid 55.7 from December’s 57.1. The Rural Mainstreet economy is now experiencing healthy job growth. Over the past 12 months, the Rural Mainstreet economy added jobs at a 0.9 percent pace compared to a higher 1.4 percent for urban areas of the same 10 states.

Confidence

The confidence index, which reflects bank CEO expectations for the economy six months out, climbed to a still anemic 45.7 from December’s 44.3, indicating a pessimistic economic outlook among bankers.

“Tariffs, trade tensions, weak agriculture commodity prices and the partial federal government shutdown negatively influenced the economic outlook of bank CEOs,” Goss said.

Home and retail sales: The home-sales index decreased to 45.7 from 47.2 in December. Retail sales sank to 52.9 from December’s stronger 58.3.

Each month, community bank presidents and CEOs in nonurban agriculturally and energy-dependent portions of a 10-state area are surveyed regarding current economic conditions in their communities and their projected economic outlooks six months down the road. Bankers from Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming are included.

This survey represents an early snapshot of the economy of rural agriculturally and energy-dependent portions of the nation. The Rural Mainstreet Index is a uniquean index covering 10 regional states, focusing on approximately 200 rural communities with an average population of 1,300 people. It gives the most current real-time analysis of the rural economy. Goss and Bill McQuillan, former chairman of the Independent Community Banks of America, created the monthly economic survey in 2005.

State reports

Colorado

Colorado’s Rural Mainstreet Index for January declined to 51.6 from 53.9 in December. The farmland and ranchland- price index rose to 38.1 from December’s 35.7. Colorado’s hiring index for January climbed to 56.2 from December’s 55.7. Over the past 12 months, Colorado’s Rural Mainstreet economy added jobs at a 1.2 percent pace, while urban areas in the state increased jobs by 2.6 percent.

Iowa

The January RMI for Iowa rose to 54.2 from December’s 53.7. Iowa’s farmland-price index increased to 37.8 from December’s 35.6. Iowa’s new-hiring index for January sank to 53.4 from 54.8 in January. Over the past 12 months, Iowa’s Rural Mainstreet economy added jobs at a 0.5 percent pace, while urban areas in the state increased jobs by 1.6 percent.

Kansas

The Kansas RMI for January declined to 51.9 from December’s 54.6. The state’s farmland-price index inched upward to 38.2 from 36.0 in December. The new-hiring index for Kansas decreased to 57.3 from 58.5 in December. Over the past 12 months, Kansas’s Rural Mainstreet economy added jobs at a 1.4 percent pace, while urban areas in the state increased jobs by an identical1.4 percent.

Minnesota

The January RMI for Minnesota dipped to 50.1 from December’s 52.8. Minnesota’s farmland-price index improved to a still weak 37.5 from 35.3 in December. The new-hiring index for January slipped to 50.2 from December’s 51.4. Over the past 12 months, Minnesota’s Rural Mainstreet economy lost jobs at a pace of minus 0.6 percent, while urban areas in the state increased jobs by 1.6 percent.

Missouri

The January RMI for Missouri sank to 53.5 from 56.7 in December. The farmland-price index for the state increased to 38.9 from December’s 36.8. Missouri’s new-hiring index for January plummeted to 55.8 from December’s 66.9. Over the past 12 months, Missouri’s Rural Mainstreet economy added jobs at a 5.2 percent pace, while urban areas in the state increased jobs by 0.9 percent.

Nebraska

The Nebraska RMI for January sank to 50.9 from December’s 53.7. The state’s farmland-price index rose to 47.8 from last month’s 35.7. Nebraska’s new-hiring index fell to 53.4 from December’s 54.9. Over the past 12 months, Nebraska’s Rural Mainstreet economy added jobs at a 0.2 percent pace, while urban areas in the state increased jobs by 1.8 percent.

South Dakota

The January RMI for South Dakota remained above growth neutral and increased to 55.0 from December’ 54.9. The state’s farmland-price index fell to 34.5 from December’s 37.1. South Dakota’s new-hiring index fell to 58.2 from 59.7 in December. Over the past 12 months, South Dakota’s Rural Mainstreet economy added jobs at a 1.5 percent pace, while urban areas in the state increased jobs by 2.5 percent.

Wyoming

The January RMI for Wyoming declined to 53.4 from December’s 56.1. The January farmland and ranchland-price index increased to 38.8 from 36.6 in December. Wyoming’s new-hiring index fell to 63.5 from 64.7 in December. Over the past 12 months, Wyoming’s Rural Mainstreet economy added jobs at a 3.3 percent pace, while urban areas in the state increased jobs by 1.1 percent.