Farm Equipment Sales Index Begins 2023 on Solid Note

As a result of strong farm financial conditions, the Farm equipment-sales index climbed to 61.4, its highest level since June of last year, and up from 60.4 in December. The index has risen above growth neutral for 24 of the last 26 months.

After six straight months of below growth neutral readings, the Creighton University Rural Mainstreet Index (RMI) climbed above the growth neutral threshold, 50.0, for a second consecutive month, according to the monthly survey of bank CEOs in rural areas of a 10-state region dependent on agriculture and/or energy.

“The Rural Mainstreet economy continues to experience improving, but slow, economic growth.Almost 85% of bankers ranked rising input prices as the top economic challenge or threat to farmers in their area,” said Ernie Goss, PhD, Jack A. MacAllister Chair in Regional Economics at Creighton University’s Heider College of Business.

Banking: The January loan volume index declined to a still solid 58.0 from 72.1 in December. The checking-deposit index increased to 70.0 from December’s 48.1, while the index for certificates of deposit and other savings instruments soared to 72.0, a record high, from 51.9 in December. 

Joseph Anglin, Chief Financial Officer at Pioneer Bank & Trust in Rapid City, S.D., said, “One of the bigger challenges in many markets, much like Farm Credit, is the tax-exempt advantage of credit unions that don’t follow their federal mandate.” “Higher farm input costs, greater farm equipment sales and drought conditions in portions of the region supported strong borrowing from farmers. At the same time, higher interest rates encouraged greater CD purchases by farmers,” said Goss. 

Hiring: The new hiring index for January increased to 53.9 from December’s 49.1. Labor shortages continue to be a significant issue constraining growth for Rural Mainstreet businesses.

 Confidence: The slowing economy, higher borrowing costs and labor shortages continued to constrain the business confidence index to a weak 40.4 from 29.6 in December. “Over the past 10 months, the regional confidence index has fallen to levels indicating a very negative outlook,” said Goss.

The survey represents an early snapshot of the economy of rural agriculturally and energy-dependent portions of the nation. The Rural Mainstreet Index is a unique index covering 10 regional states, focusing on approximately 200 rural communities with an average population of 1,300. The index provides 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 and launched it in January 2006.