(Omaha) — After two months of improvement, one of KMA’s leading indicators shows continuing weakness in the rural economy.
Creighton University’s Rural Mainstreet Index for February totaled 47.9. That’s down from 52.0 in January, and ends the two-month streak of above growth neutral readings. The survey of bank CEOs in a 10-state region–including Iowa, Nebraska and Missouri–considers 50.0 as growth neutral. Speaking on KMA’s “Morning Line” program Monday morning, Creighton University Economics Professor Dr. Ernie Goss says some of the same issues continue to bog down rural economic conditions.
“Some of that, of course, is just some of the struggles we have out there in terms of global trade,” said Goss. “Some of the real concerns regarding transportation issues coming out of the Mideast. Those are some real issues there.”…