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Rural Mainstreet Economy expands in December
The latest Rural Mainstreet Index reveals the rural economy has climbed above growth neutral for just the second time in 2025.
Creighton University economist Ernie Goss tells Brownfield rural bank CEOs feel economic conditions are better than expected.
“The negatives are getting less negative, and each month the numbers are moving up,” he said.
The RMI is a monthly survey of ag bankers in 10 states including Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, and South Dakota.
Goss says recent trade optimism is helping boost the outlook for farm income. He says the bankers are bullish on President Trump’s proposed trade framework with China.
“Trade with China was down by almost 90%, 87.6% to be precise,” he said. “That’s 2025 versus 2024, so that really was a lot to do with the negativism we had been seeing in our reports.”
Goss says 2026 is shaping up to a better year for farmers compared to 2025.
Ernie Goss Audio Report:
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