Rural Mainstreet Economic Index Falls Below Growth Neutral Again

Farm Equipment Sales Plummet to Lowest Level in Two Years 

August 2022 Survey Results at a Glance

• The overall index fell for a fifth straight month, sinking below growth neutral for a third consecutive month.
• After 23 straight months of expanding farm equipment sales, farmer purchases plummeted for the month.
• More than nine of 10 bank CEOs regard Chinese purchases of regional farmland and food processing facilities as a threat to the regional economy.
• On average, more than half, or 52.2%, expect spending and taxes related to the Inflation Reduction Act to increase inflation and add to the federal deficit.
• Even with recent slowdowns, bankers expect loan delinquencies to decline by an average of 1.7% over the next 12 months.

OMAHA, Neb. (August 18, 2022) — The Creighton University Rural Mainstreet Index (RMI) fell for the fifth straight month, sinking below growth neutral for a third consecutive month according to the monthly survey of bank CEOs in rural areas of a 10-state region dependent on agriculture and/or energy.      

Farm equipment sales: The August farm equipment-sales index sank to 45.9 from 56.5 in July. After 20 straight months of advancing above growth neutral, the index unexpectedly dropped below the threshold to its lowest level since November 2020.  

Overall: The region’s overall reading for August slumped to 44.0 from 46.0 in July. The index ranges between 0 and 100 with a reading of 50.0 representing growth neutral. This was the fifth consecutive decline in the region’s overall reading.

“The Rural Mainstreet economy is now experiencing a downturn in economic activity. Supply chain disruptions from transportation bottlenecks and labor shortages continue to constrain growth. Farmers and bankers are bracing for escalating interest rates and falling farm commodity prices,” said Ernie Goss, PhD, Jack A. MacAllister Chair in Regional Economics at Creighton University’s Heider College of Business.

Bank CEOs were asked about their assessment of the Inflation Reduction Act. On average, more than half, or 52.2%, expect spending and taxes related to the act to increase inflation and add to the federal deficit.

Among bankers naming drought as an area of concern, Jim Eckert, CEO of Anchor State Bank in Anchor, IL, said “In our area, crops generally look good, but could use a rain. There are small pockets which are very dry and without some timely rains, we will have an early harvest this year.”

Farming and ranching: The region’s farmland price index for August declined to 60.0 from the 66.0 in July, marking the 23rd straight month the index has moved above growth neutral. August’s solid reading was the lowest index since February 2021. 

According to Jim Rothermich of the Land Talker, the average price per acre of Iowa farmland, for the first half of 2022, increased from $12,480 to $13,852.

Bankers were asked about Chinese ownership of farmland and food processing in the region.  More than nine of 10 bank CEOs, or 91.7%, regard Chinese purchases of farmland and food processing facilities in the region as a threat to the regional economy.

Farm equipment sales: The August farm equipment-sales index sank to 45.9 from 56.5 in July. After 20 straight months of advancing above growth neutral, the index unexpectedly dropped below the threshold to its lowest level since November 2020.  

Banking: The August loan volume index climbed to a strong 73.9 from 72.0 in July. The checking-deposit index was unchanged from 47.9 in July, while the index for certificates of deposit and other savings instruments increased to 35.4 from 33.3 in July. “Higher costs of farm inputs and softer agriculture commodity prices supported stronger borrowing from farmers,” said Goss.

Even with significant 2022 input price increases over 2021 levels, bankers expect to record a 1.7% decline in farm loan delinquencies over the next 12 months. 

Hiring: The new hiring index fell to 52.0 from 60.9 in July. Labor shortages continue to be a significant issue constraining growth for Rural Mainstreet businesses. Despite labor shortages, the Rural Mainstreet expanded non-farm employment by 3.4% over the past 12 months. This compares to an identical 3.4% expansion for urban areas of the same 10 states for the same period of time.

Confidence: The slowing economy, strong energy prices and agriculture input prices constrained the business confidence index to 38.0 in August, up from 26.0 in July.

Home and retail sales: The home-sales index dropped to a weak 44.0 from 48.0 in July. The retail-sales index for August improved to a weak 48.0 from 46.0 in July. “Rising energy prices and higher interest rates reduced home and retail sales on Rural Mainstreet. This is the lowest home sales index since December 2018,” 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. It 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.