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| Creighton University chart compares current month to last month and year ago; click here to download the full report. |
An April survey of rural bankers in 10 Midwest states that rely on farming and energy showed continued optimism about the economy, with the overall Rural Mainstreet Index jumping from March's 69.0 to a record 78.8. The index is a survey of bankers in about 200 rural communities with an average population of 1,300 in Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming, all states dependent on agriculture and/or energy.
"Strong grain prices, the Federal Reserve’s record-low interest rates, and growing exports have underpinned the Rural Mainstreet Economy. Even so, current rural economic activity remains below pre-pandemic levels," reports Creighton University economist Ernie Goss, who compiles the index.
April's report marks the sixth straight month the index has remained above growth-neutral, with over 60 percent of bank CEOs reporting their local economy expanded between April and May. However, almost 9 out of 10 bankers said unfilled jobs in the area are restraining economic growth.
from The Rural Blog https://ift.tt/3bSZ0tl Midwestern banker survey finds record-high economic confidence amid worries about labor shortage - Entrepreneur Generations
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